Rhinoceros beetle

Rhinoceros Beetle

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Rhinoceros beetle

The rhinoceros beetles or rhino beetle are a subfamily (Dynastinae) of beetle

Beetle

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Rhinoceros beetle'

Start a new discussion about 'Rhinoceros beetle'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

The rhinoceros beetles or rhino beetle are a subfamily (Dynastinae) of beetle

Beetle

Beetles are the group of insects with the largest number of known species. They are placed in the order Coleoptera , which contains more described species than in any other order in the animal, constituting about 25% of all known life-forms....
s in the family of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). They are among the largest of beetles, and their common name refers to the characteristic horns borne by the males of most species in the group. The male beetles use their horns in mating battles against other males.

Their larval stage is long, several years in some species. The larvae feed on rotten wood while the adults feed on nectar, plant sap and fruit. Rhinoceros beetle larvae are sometimes fried and eaten as a bush delicacy. Rhinoceros beetles are popular pets in Asia. They are clean, easy to maintain, and safe to handle. In Asian countries, male beetles are also used for gambling fights

Insect fighting

Insect fighting is a blood sport involving insects. It is practised in areas in China, Japan, and Thailand. There are people who train and fight their insects against other insects in underground fighting arenas....
since they naturally compete for female beetles with the winner knocking the other off a log.

Rhinoceros beetles are also the strongest animals on the planet in relation to their own size. They can lift up to 850 times their own weight. To put this into perspective, if a human of average height and weight had the strength of the rhinoceros beetle, he would likely be able to lift a 65 ton object (e.g. an M1 Abrams

M1 Abrams

The M1 Abrams is a Tank classification#Main battle tank produced in the United States. The M1 is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff of the United States Army and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972....
tank).

Systematics and selected taxa

Well-known species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
of rhino beetles include the Atlas Beetle

Atlas beetle

The Atlas beetle, Chalcosoma atlas, is a species of beetle found in southern Asia, especially Malaysia, remarkable for its size . As common in many insect species, the male is larger than the female and usually two males will fight for a female for mating....
(Chalcosoma atlas), Elephant Beetle

Elephant beetle

Elephant Beetles, Megasoma elephas, are part of the Scarabaeidae family and the subfamily Dynastinae. They are classified with the Neotropical rhinoceros beetles....
(Megasoma elephas), European Rhinoceros Beetle

European Rhinoceros Beetle

The European rhinoceros beetle is a large flying beetle that inhabits the Palaearctic region....
(Oryctes nasicornis), Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Japanese horned beetle, or , Trypoxylus dichotomus, is a species of rhinoceros beetle found in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China....
(Trypoxylus dichotomus), Hercules Beetle

Hercules beetle

The Hercules beetle is the most famous of the rhinoceros beetles. Native to the rainforests of central America and South America, they also can be found in coastal regions of North Carolina....
(Dynastes hercules), Ox Beetle

Ox beetle

The ox beetle is a type of rhinoceros beetle. The "major" males of this species have three large horns on the thorax, resembling the Triceratops....
(Strategus aloeus), the Unicorn Beetle

Unicorn beetle

The unicorn beetle, Dynastes tityus, is a species of rhinoceros beetle. This beetle is distinguished by horns on its head and thorax....
(Dynastes tityus) and the Common Rhinoceros Beetle (Xylotrupes ulysses
Xylotrupes ulysses

Xylotrupes ulysses, common names "common rhinoceros beetle" or simply "rhinoceros beetle" is a species of large beetle native to Australia....
)

The rhino beetle tribe

Tribe (biology)

In biology, a tribe — or infrafamily — is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes....
s with some selected genera] are

Agaocephalini

- Aegopsis

Cyclocephalini

Dynastini

- Allomyrina Arrow, 1911
- Chalcosoma (including Atlantase)
- Dynastes
  Dynastes
  
  Dynastes is a genus of large beetles, mostly from Central America and South America, the males of which bear two long horns forming a plier....
  (including Satanix)
- Eupatorus Burmeister, 1847
- Golofa
  Golofa
  
  Golofa is a genus of Rhinoceros beetles....
- Megasoma Kirby, 1825
- Pachyoryctes Arrow, 1908
- Xylotrupes Hope, 1837
- Goldsterus

Oryctini

- Coelosis Hope, 1837
- Heterogomphus Burmeister, 1847
- Megaceras Hope, 1837
- Oryctes Illiger, 1798
- Strategus Hope, 1837
- Trichogomphus Burmeister, 1847

Oryctoderini

Pentodontini

- Bothynus Hope, 1837

Phileurini

- Homophileurus Kolbe, 1910
- Phileurus Latreille, 1807
incertae sedis
Incertae sedis

Incertae sedis , abbreviation "inc. sed.", is a term used to define a taxonomy group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined....

Pericoptus Burmeister, 1847

Hexodontini

- Hexodon

External links

French site on Dynastinae Excellently illustrated.