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Post by Adam Cotton on Oct 30, 2016 15:00:21 GMT
Absolutely superb display of the specimens complete with type photos and citation of the ODs.
Adam.
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Post by trehopr1 on Oct 30, 2016 21:38:54 GMT
Simply Outstanding ! ! I also concure entirely with Adam's remark. Thank you so much for posting photos of your collection. Heros and Terribilis are two of THE most exclusive beetle species known. Was wondering if terribilis is synonymous with heyrovskyi ?
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Post by trehopr1 on Oct 31, 2016 4:44:34 GMT
To those forum members unfamiliar with the super cerambycidae of the genus Xixuthrus I thought I would mention some interesting tidbits of information. I'm sure most members are well familiar with the genera Titanus and Macrodontia which seem to garner all the glory in any talk of large beetles. However, beetles of the genus Xixuthrus are equally as well deserved of that glory and are a far sight harder to find for sale or at auction --- ever. The Fijian government many years ago put in place laws protecting their endemic fauna from being collected.
Anyway, according to the limited information available on these beetles the largest (or longest) known example of X.heros present in a museum measured in at 16.5 cm. from mandible tip to the tip of the abdomen. Typical specimens of males are in the 15+ cm. range. The largest reliably measured Titanus male (that wasn't doctored to look bigger) was measured at 16.7 cm. using the same measurement parameters.
According to the limited sources available to me there are only 3 species in the genus. However, by now I'm sure there have been a few select others named. Of the two giants of the genus (heros and terribilis); it is terribilis which is far less common and only marginally smaller in size. The adults actively stridulate if disturbed or handled. And like all other large Prioninae they can deliver a nasty painful bite if carelessness is involved in their handling.
The limited information on these giants reproductive ecology suggests a gestation period of an estimated 12 years from egg to adult. Local Fijians familiar with these creatures consider their larvae to be a special delicacy when found. But, they have to be literally hacked out of the tree trunks in which their entire life cycle is spent.
Should I learn more about these fascinating creatures I will post my findings....
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Post by africaone on Oct 31, 2016 9:35:20 GMT
According to the limited sources available to me there are only 3 species in the genus there are at least 16 species included the Carribean one ....X. domingoensis |
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Post by trehopr1 on Oct 31, 2016 14:30:24 GMT
Thank you africaone for the update on known species. I presumed other species had been named as the article I quoted was from 2004. Would you know if the species terribilis is synonymous with heyrovskyi ? If so, why the change and what of the origins of the name heyrovskyi.
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Post by beppemaraz on Nov 1, 2016 16:35:49 GMT
Ciao a tutti,
does anyone know me and my Brother,we collect prioninae since more than thirty years, of course we was attracted by the rarity and the size of some species.
Macrodontia, Titanus, Callipogon and.... Xixuthrus.
Some years ago we start a serious study of subtribe Xixuthrina, with description of four news species:
Xixuthrus solomonensis
Xixuthrus gressitti
Xixuthrus thomsoni
Xixuthrus solomonensis
That add to
(The genus Xixuthrus, described by Thomson in 1864 on the species Macrotoma microcera White, 1853, and widespread over the Indo-Australian region, includes at present 11 species: X. microcerus (White), known of Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Shanghir) and Philippines (Palawan), X. lunicollis Lansberge, 1884 from Indonesia (Buru, Ceram, Amboina, Kei, Mysol), X. bufo Thomson, 1878 from Indonesia (Halmahera), X. nycticorax Thomson, 1877 of Australia (Queensland), X. axis Thomson, 1877, X. helleri (Lameere, 1903) and X. granulipennis Komiya, 2000, from Papua New Guinea, X. heros Heer in Graeffe, 1868, X. terribilis Thomson, 1878 and X. ganglbaueri Lameere, 1912, from Fidji Islands, finally X. costatus Montrouzier, 1855 from Solomon Islands.) except to New Xixuthrina from Indo-Australian region Marazzi, Marazzi & Komiya 2006)
we add also
the two species of Clinopleurus synonimized with Xixuthrus
Xixuthrus lanbergei
Xixuthrus arfakianus.
Xixuthrus terribilis was revalidated of Yanega et altri (the Xixuthrus species of Fiji 2004) you can downloaded the pdf on web
at moment we are finishing a illustrated catalogue of subtribe that we hope it will publishe on 20017
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Post by beppemaraz on Nov 2, 2016 11:09:20 GMT
The 4 species is Xixuthrus lamerei
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