| Atlas beetle | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Chalcosoma |
| Species: | C. atlas |
| Binomial name | |
| Chalcosoma atlas (Linnaeus, 1758) |
|
The Atlas beetle, Chalcosoma atlas, is a species of beetle found in southern Asia, especially Malaysia, remarkable for its size (25–130 mm). As common in some Scarabaeidae , the male is larger than the female, and have specialised horns on the head and thorax that males use to fight with each other to gain mating rights with females.
The Atlas beetle is, like other beetles of the genus Chalcosoma, notable for its size and the horns that is seen on its head. The Atlas beetle differs from other Chalcosoma species (such as C. caucasus) in the end of the cephalic horn of the Atlas, which is broadened.
The larva of the Atlas beetle is known for its fierce behavior, including biting if touched. Unverified reports exist of larvae that live together fighting to the death if there's not enough space or food.