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Amami Flat Stag Beetle
IntermediateDorcus titanus elegans
A subspecies of Dorcus titanus endemic to the Amami Islands. Large among Japanese subspecies, with faint elytral ridges recalling Dorcus metacostatus, with which it shares the islands; captive males reach the low 80s in mm.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
20〜26℃
Lifespan
Adults 1-3 years
Size
Males 23-81.8 mm (including captive; wild up to 75.0 mm) / females 29-40 mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Sap of Castanopsis and Mallotus, beetle jelly
About
The Amami flat stag (Dorcus titanus elegans) is a subspecies of Dorcus titanus from the Amami Islands, including Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima, Yorojima and Kikaijima, and an old subspecies described in 1899. Males measure 23-81.8 mm and females 29-40 mm; the BE-KUWA captive record is 81.8 mm (2024) and the wild record 75.0 mm, large among Japanese subspecies. The body is black, the male mandibles are well developed and curved with the inner tooth near the middle, and the elytra carry faint ridges recalling Dorcus metacostatus of the same islands, clearer in small beetles. It lives in evergreen broadleaf forest from lowland to hills, is nocturnal and gathers at sap of Castanopsis and Mallotus. Adults appear May-October with a peak in August. It shares the islands with Dorcus metacostatus, and a single hybrid female has been found. Females lay in rotten wood, and adults live 1-3 years. Keep at 20-26 C; females lay in logs and fermented substrate, and larvae grow in substrate or fungus bottles. Males are aggressive, but breeding is not difficult if female-killing is avoided. Genetic contamination from released beetles is a concern, so never release captive stock.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Amami Flat Stag Beetle
The Amami Flat Stag Beetle lives Adults 1-3 years.
Size of the Amami Flat Stag Beetle
The Amami Flat Stag Beetle grows to Males 23-81.8 mm (including captive; wild up to 75.0 mm) / females 29-40 mm.
Temperature & humidity for the Amami Flat Stag Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Amami Flat Stag Beetle is 20〜26℃.
Basic Info
Care Specifications
AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Easy
Sources: Mushinavi - Amami flat stag (JA) / beetlebreeding.ch - The Breeding/Rearing of Dorcus titanus palawanicus by Kay (species-level guidance for D. titanus) / Dorcus titanus elegans - Wikipedia (JA)
Breeding Records & Localities
Captive record (♂)
81.8 mm
Wild record (♂)
75 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Amami flat stag, captive 81.8 mm, kochu 2024 / wild 75.0 mm, 有馬剛; projected maximum 85 mm)
Notable localities
Amami Oshima (Kagoshima)Kakeromajima (Kagoshima)
Regional subspecies
- Dorcus titanus elegans — Amami Islands (Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima, Yorojima, Kikaijima)
Slight morphological differences are reported between islands. Dorcus metacostatus of the same islands is a separate species.
Generation codes
- WD
- Wild-caught
- WF1
- Offspring of a wild-caught female
- F1〜
- Captive generations (same locality)
- CBF1
- Cross-locality captive-bred (reset)
Sources: BE-KUWA Certified Breeding Records (Mushi-sha, FY2025 edition PDF, JA)
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Primary sources
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Dorcus titanus elegans (Boileau, 1899)
Synonyms: Serrognathus titanus elegans
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Sources: CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Amami Flat Stag Beetle Listings
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