Megasoma
elephas
Range: southern Mexico
and Central America
Size: 70 - 120 mm
Megasoma elephas
is rather unusual among the elephant beetles in that its body is covered
with a very dense, microscopic coat of hairs (called a "pile" or "carpet"),
which are especially thick on the elytra. A few other species of
Megasoma, such as M. gyas and M. anubis, also possess
such a covering. The lateral thoracic horns of M. elephas
are rather short and diverging, and the median thoracic horn is replaced
by a mere stub. There are two subspecies of M. elephas - M.
elephas elephas from Central America, and M. elephas occidentalis
from southwestern Mexico (Colima, Guerrero), the latter being distinguished
from the former by the lateral thoracic horns, which are perpendicular
to the axis of the body. Also, the pile on the elytra is less dense
and longer. M. elephas occidentalis is rather common within
its range in southwestern Mexico, but unfortunately, there appears to have
been a recent decline in the population of M. elephas elephas in
Central America. This is primarily due to loss of habitat caused
by the "slash and burn" destruction of the tropical rain forests in which
they live. Without old growth forests which contain large quantities
of the decomposing logs in which their larvae develop, rhinoceros beetles
such as Megasoma simply cannot survive. |