| Macrodontia cervicornis | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Family: | Cerambycidae |
| Subfamily: | Prioninae |
| Genus: | Macrodontia |
| Species: | M. cervicornis |
| Binomial name | |
| Macrodontia cervicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
|
Macrodontia cervicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) is the largest and best-known member of this genus of long-horned beetles. This species is sometimes considered the second longest among all beetles, with known specimens exceeding 17 cm in length. A fair bit of this length, however, is due to the enormous mandibles, from which it derives both of the names in its binomen: Macrodontia means "large tooth", and cervicornis means "deer antler". For that reason, it is generally excluded from consideration by purists who do not take the jaws, legs, or antennae of a beetle into account when determining length. It is very attractive to insect collecters and can be priced at up to $300.
This species is known from the rain forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, the Guianas, and Brazil. Additional described species in the genus extend the overall range of the genus from Guatemala to Argentina.