- Centaurus beetle
Taxobox
color = bloody red
name = Centaurus beetle
regnum =
Animal ia
phylum =Arthropoda
classis =Insect a
ordo =Coleoptera
familia =Scarabaeidae
genus = "Augosoma "
species = "A. centaurus"
binomial = "Augosoma centaurus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)The Centaurus beetle, "Augosoma centaurus", is a species ofbeetle found in tropicalAfrica , which measures about (40-90 mm). As common in many insect species, the male is larger than the female and usually two males will fight for a female for mating.Appearance
It is interesting to note that the Centaurus beetle's adult morphology is strikingly similar to that of beetles from the "Dynastes" genus which originate from tropical America, which led to its initial classification to that genus. Eventually, it was moved to its present genus to avoid confusion as even the "Xylotrupes" genus from the southeast
Asia n tropics have a similar form. The male has large horns and is considerably bigger than the female, which has no horns as well.Larvae
The
larva of the centaurus beetle has a dark row of spots which is visible along the side of its body, known as the spiracles. These are openings leading to its tracheal network, which is the insect equivalent of the vertebrate lung. The spiracles could be considered as the insect version of nostrils. Spiracles are also present in the adult beetle and located along the sides of the abdomen; however, they have no distinct color and quite unnoticeable.Origin of the name
The origin of the name of the Centaurus beetle may be the Greek
Centaur .Uses and allusions in pop Culture
*The Centaurus beetle is used as the design scheme of the movie-only character in the adaptation film "".
External links
* [http://www.naturalworlds.org/scarabaeidae/species/Augosoma_centaurus.htm - Family Scarabidae - "Augusoma centaurus" (Centaurus beetle) specs and pics]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/ns/RhinocerosBeetles/ - Rhinoceros beetles - "Augosoma centaurus" (Centaurus beetle)]
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