A beautiful preserved specimen of an Elephant Beetle.
One of the giants of the insect world, the elephant beetle (Megasoma elephas) is a large and distinctive tropical beetle with a long, rhinoceros-like horn on its head. This unusual structure is found only in the male and is used in combat with other males.
The adult elephant beetle has a shiny black body, with a reddish-yellow or brown furry covering. The horn of the male also has a furry covering and is upward-curving, splitting into two at the tip. In addition to the long horn on the head, the pronotum of the male elephant beetle bears a smaller, central horn and a triangular horn on each side. The female elephant beetle is distinguished from the male by its lack of horns.
Elephant beetles are black in color and covered with a coat of fine microscopic hairs. The hairs grow particularly thick on the beetle's elytra. The hairs give the beetle's body a yellowish color. Males have two horns protruding from the head and another from the prothorax. Females have no horns. The horns are used for defense, and in competition among males for food and mates.
The elephant beetle's habitat range occurs in Central and South America, from south-eastern Mexico south to Colombia and Venezuela.
Size: Height 12" x Width 8.25" x Depth 2.25"
Weight: 1 1/2 pounds
Shipping includes extra packaging, insurance and signature required.
Returns & Exchanges
I don't accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Privacy
Why I Need Your Information and How I Use It
I rely on a number of legal bases to collect, use, and share your information, including:
as needed to provide my services, such as when I use your information to fulfill your order, to settle disputes, or to provide customer support;
when you have provided your affirmative consent, which you may revoke at any time, such as by signing up for my mailing list;
if necessary to comply with a legal obligation or court order or in connection with a legal claim, such as retaining information about your purchases if required by tax law; and
as necessary for the purpose of my legitimate interests, if those legitimate interests are not overridden by your rights or interests, such as 1) providing and improving my services. I use your information to provide the services you requested and in my legitimate interest to improve my services; and 2) Compliance with the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use. I use your information as necessary to comply with my obligations under the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use.