Taveuni beetle
Encyclopedia
The Taveuni beetle is known from the island of Taveuni
in the Fiji
, and is one of the largest living insect species, with specimens around 14 cm long, excluding legs, antennae
, or mandibles.
It is closely related to the giant Fijian long-horned beetle
. These beetles have powerful jaws, and should be handled with care when alive.
This species has been mistakenly classified under the name Xixuthrus heyrovskyi since 1945, when it was unwittingly re-described, and this name still appears in much of the scientific literature.
Taveuni
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers . The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the...
in the Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, and is one of the largest living insect species, with specimens around 14 cm long, excluding legs, antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
, or mandibles.
It is closely related to the giant Fijian long-horned beetle
Giant Fijian long-horned beetle
The giant Fijian long-horned beetle is native to the island of Viti Levu in Fiji, and is one of the largest living insect species, with specimens around 15 cm long, excluding legs, antennae, or jaws. It is closely related to the Taveuni beetle, which is only marginally smaller...
. These beetles have powerful jaws, and should be handled with care when alive.
This species has been mistakenly classified under the name Xixuthrus heyrovskyi since 1945, when it was unwittingly re-described, and this name still appears in much of the scientific literature.