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Amami Saw Stag Beetle
IntermediateProsopocoilus dissimilis dissimilis
A saw stag from Amami Oshima and Kakeromajima, and the largest Prosopocoilus in Japan. It is black with long, heavy mandibles, and the captive record reaches 82.1 mm.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
20〜28℃
Lifespan
Adults live two to three months in the wild
Size
Males 23.4-82.1 mm (including captive; the wild record is 80.5 mm) / females 28.5-40 mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Sap of broadleaf trees such as Mallotus, Machilus and Castanopsis; beetle jelly
About
The Amami saw stag (Prosopocoilus dissimilis dissimilis) lives on Amami Oshima and Kakeromajima. The species splits into seven subspecies and is the largest Prosopocoilus in Japan. The nominate subspecies runs 23.4-79.5 mm in males and 28.5-40 mm in females; the BE-KUWA captive record is 82.1 mm against a wild record of 80.5 mm, far ahead of the other subspecies. The body is black, rarely reddish brown. A major male carries strongly arched mandibles, while a minor has short, straight, saw-like jaws. The female's elytra bear ridges resembling those of Dorcus metacostatus on the same islands, thought to be a case of convergence. It lives in broadleaf forest, flies from mid-June to early September and gathers at sap of Mallotus, Machilus and Castanopsis. It is mainly nocturnal but often rests high in the shade of trees by day.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Size of the Amami Saw Stag Beetle
The Amami Saw Stag Beetle grows to Males 23.4-82.1 mm (including captive; the wild record is 80.5 mm) / females 28.5-40 mm.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan (Amami Oshima and Kakeromajima, Amami Islands, Kagoshima)
Lifespan
Adults live two to three months in the wild
Size
Males 23.4-82.1 mm (including captive; the wild record is 80.5 mm) / females 28.5-40 mm
Temperature
20〜28℃
Humidity
60〜80%
Care Specifications
AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Easy
Sources: Prosopocoilus dissimilis - Wikipedia (JA; sizes, ranges and biology of the seven subspecies) / Mushinavi - Tokara saw stag (egg-laying, larvae, adult care, difficulty rating, JA)
Breeding Records & Localities
Captive record (♂)
82.1 mm
Wild record (♂)
80.5 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Amami saw stag, captive 82.1 mm, 里 由一 2017 / wild 80.5 mm, 藤本 憲; projected maximum 85 mm. Smallest records: captive 23.4 mm, 加藤砂織 2010; wild 23.6 mm, チームむし社 2020)
Notable localities
Amami Oshima (Kagoshima)Kakeromajima (Kagoshima)
Regional subspecies
- Prosopocoilus dissimilis dissimilis — Amami Oshima and Kakeromajima
At 82.1 mm this is the largest captive record for any Japanese Prosopocoilus subspecies; BE-KUWA sets the dream size at 85 mm.
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.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Prosopocoilus dissimilis dissimilis Boileau, 1898
Synonyms: Psalidoremus dissimilis
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 Saw Stag Beetle Listings
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