Sinodendron cylindricum

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Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Suborder:Polyphaga
Sinodendron cylindricum
A male on a log
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Scarabaeiformia
Family: Lucanidae
Genus: Sinodendron
Species:
S. cylindricum
Binomial name
Sinodendron cylindricum
(Linnaeus, 1758) [1]

Sinodendron cylindricum, the rhinoceros stag beetle,[2] horned stag beetle, or simply the rhinoceros beetle, is a species of stag beetle native to Europe.[3][4] It is characterised by a clear sexual dimorphism.[5]

The beetles reach a body length of 12 to 16 millimeters and have a very shiny, black body, sometimes with turquoise sheen.[6] Despite being in the family Lucanidae (stag beetles), they look rather like true rhinoceros beetles, which are well known for their rhinoceros-like horn. The body is cylindrical and the elytra and thorax have distinct rows of pits and grooves.[6] The males have a well-developed horn on their heads, which is significantly smaller in the females. In addition, the cavities on the pronotum in the female are much shallower than the distinct cavities in the male. The larvae are white and soft with brown heads.[6]

Distribution and habitat

With the exception of southwestern Spain and Portugal and northern Scandinavia, the species occurs throughout the European continent and the British Isles to western Siberia. The beetle prefers primary deciduous forests at cooler and higher altitudes, but can also be found in old willow stands, avenue and street trees, parkland, hedgerows,[6] and fruit trees.

Lifecycle and diet

Conservation

References

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