| Geodorcus auriculatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female, illustrated by Des Helmore | |
 | |
| Male, illustrated by Des Helmore | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Lucanidae |
| Genus: | Geodorcus |
| Species: | G. auriculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Geodorcus auriculatus (Broun, 1903) [2] | |
| Synonyms | |
Geodorcus auriculatus is a large flightless stag beetle that is found in the southern part of the Coromandel Peninsula and on Mount Te Aroha in the Kaimai range of New Zealand.
Geodorcus auriculatus are large dull to glossy black or brownish black beetles. Their exoskeleton is covered in dots and minute hairs with four inconspicuous ribs. The length for male specimens ranges from 21 to 29 mm. This length includes their impressive mandibles. Female beetles have much less variation in their size, ranging in length from 19–20 mm. Their smaller mandibles allow them to be distinguished from male beetles. Their head is widest behind the eyes and distinctly depressed and smooth in males, less so in female beetles. [3]
Geodorcus auriculatus is found from Manaia on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula to Mount Te Aroha in the Kaimai range, south of the Coromandel. They can be found from near sea level to 950m on Mount Te Aroha. [3]
Adult beetles have been found under fallen logs in the moist layer of decaying wood between a log and the soil underneath it. Forest types vary and include canopies of tawa, rimu, northern rata, kauri, red and hard beech. [4] Like other Geodorcus species G. auriculatus spends its entire life in cool damp environments such as under logs and rocks, emerging at night to feed on sappy exudations from trees or other plants. [3]
Like all Geodorcus species, G. auricualtus is protected under Schedule 7 of The 1953 Wildlife Act, making it an offense to hunt, kill or possess a specimen. [5] The known range of this species has been greatly extended by repeated surveys by the Department of Conservation. The surveys followed it gaining the conservation status of 'endangered' to give it legal protection from collectors. Like other Geodorcus species that live on the North or South Island of New Zealand, rats possums and pigs are threats to the species as prey or to its habitat. [3] Habitat loss by deforestation for logging or mining has also caused a loss of all beetle fauna within this species range. [4]
Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies. Some species grow to over 12 centimetres, but most to about 5 cm (2 in).
The Kaimai Range is a mountain range in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of a series of ranges, with the Coromandel Range to the north and the Mamaku Ranges to the south. The Kaimai Range separates the Waikato in the west from the Bay of Plenty in the east.
Lucanus cervus, the European stag beetle, is one of the best-known species of stag beetle in Western Europe, and is the eponymous example of the genus. L. cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.
Cyclommatus is a genus of the family Lucanidae, also known as the stag beetle. The majority of the species from the genus Cyclommatus are located in Southeast Asia, though some species are found in China and Taiwan as well. The genus Cyclommatus also consists of three subgenera: Cyclommatus, Cyclommatinus and Cyclommatellus. Each subgenera contains 80, 24 and 3 species respectively. In total, the genus Cyclommatus consists of a total of 134 species, though more are still being discovered to this day.
Hexarthrius parryi, the fighting giant stag beetle, is a species of large stag beetles. It belongs to the genus Hexarthrius of the tribe Lucanini. It is classified under the subfamily Lucaninae of the stag beetle family Lucanidae.
The golden stag beetle is a species of beetles in the family Lucanidae. In Tasmania, this species is referred to by the "common name" of Christmas beetle, a name that is normally used for beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, genus Anoplognathus.
Paralissotes reticulatus, also called the New Zealand reticulate stag beetle, is a native species of stag beetle from New Zealand. Although they do have wings they are flightless.
Geodorcus helmsi,New Zealand giant stag beetle or Helms's stag beetle is a large, slow-moving, flightless stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Amychus granulatus, commonly known as the Cook Strait click beetle, is a large flightless click beetle in the family Elateridae.
Geodorcus is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Lucanidae. They are endemic to New Zealand. All Geodorcus species are protected under Schedule 7 of The 1953 Wildlife Act, making it an offense to hunt, kill or possess a specimen.
Geodorcus capito is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is endemic to the Chatham Islands in New Zealand.
Geodorcus alsobius, or Moehau stag beetle, is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is found only on Mt Moehau, the highest mountain in the Moehau Range on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.
Geodorcus ithaginis, the Mokohinau stag beetle, is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was described by Thomas Broun in 1893 after being discovered in the Mokohinau Islands by Andreas Stewart Sandager, a lighthouse keeper on the islands. The species survives only on the small unnamed island "Stack H", in a patch of vegetation the size of a living room, and is in extreme danger of extinction.
Geodorcus montivagus is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is known from only one female specimen found on the Victoria Range in New Zealand. It was found in tussock at 1,220 metres (4,000 ft) above sea level.
Geodorcus novaezealandiae is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is the type species and smallest member of the genus Geodorcus. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Geodorcus philpotti is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was named by Major Thomas Broun after Mr A. Philpott, who discovered it at Hump Ridge near Invercargill. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Geodorcus servandus is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was discovered by P.R. Kettle in December 1960 and this holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. It was first described by Beverley Holloway in 2007. Its type location is Mount Tuhua summit, near Lake Kaniere on the West Coast of New Zealand. The name servandus is a Latin word meaning "[something] to be preserved, conserved, looked after".
Geodorcus sororum is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was discovered in 1973 by Mr. A. Wright on an expedition to Middle Sister Island/Te Awanui, one of The Sisters Islands/Rangitatahi which are part of the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. This holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. It was first described by Beverley Holloway in 2007. The name sororum is translated from Latin to mean "belonging to the sisters".
Apterocyclus palmatus is a species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is found on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands.
Aegus chelifer, is a species of stag beetle found in Indo-Malaya regional countries.
