Lucanus elaphus

Lucanus elaphus
Adult male Lucanus elaphus
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Scarabaeiformia
Family:	Lucanidae
Genus:	Lucanus
Species:	L. elaphus
Binomial name
Lucanus elaphus Fabricius, 1775

Lucanus elaphus, the giant stag beetle[1], elk stag beetle, or erroneously as the elephant stag beetle,[2] is a beetle of the family Lucanidae native to eastern North America.[3][4] They are sometimes kept as pets.

Etymology

Elaphus in Greek means "deer".[5] Compare with the Red Deer or elk (Cervus elaphus), 'cervus' meaning 'deer' in Latin.

Gallery

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  Differences in size of Lucanus elaphus
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  Adult female Lucanus elaphus, 29 millimeters long
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  Adult male Lucanus elaphus
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  Mandibles of male Lucanus elaphus
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  Adult female Lucanus elaphus, 29 millimeters long
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  Underside of adult female

References

1. NatureServe (4 August 2023). "Lucanus elaphus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
2. Milne, Lorus; Milne, Margery (1980). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. Visual key by Susan Rayfield. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 552. ISBN 0-394-50763-0.
3. "Lucanus elaphus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
4. Staines, C. L. (2001). "Distribution of Lucanus elaphus Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) in North America". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 55 (4): 397–404. doi:10.1649/0010-065X(2001)055[0397:DOLELC]2.0.CO;2.
5. LSJ.