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Tokunoshima Saw Stag Beetle
IntermediateProsopocoilus dissimilis makinoi
A subspecies of the Amami saw stag found only on Tokunoshima. It is shorter and stockier than the nominate, with a wider gap between the first and second inner teeth. It is black to dark reddish brown, and the female's elytra carry ridges.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
20〜28℃
Lifespan
Adults live two to three months in the wild
Size
Males 29-76.2 mm (wild record 76.2 mm; the captive record is 75.8 mm) / females 28-39 mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Sap of broadleaf trees such as Mallotus, Machilus and Castanopsis; beetle jelly
About
The Tokunoshima saw stag (Prosopocoilus dissimilis makinoi) occurs only on Tokunoshima and was described in 1985. Males run 29-75.8 mm and females 28-39 mm. It is shorter and stockier even than the nominate subspecies, and the wider gap between the first and second inner teeth is the identifying mark; the colour is black to dark reddish brown. The female's elytra carry the same ridges as the nominate. The BE-KUWA wild record is 76.2 mm and the captive record 75.8 mm, making it the second largest subspecies after the Amami Oshima form. It lives in broadleaf forest and gathers at sap of Mallotus and Castanopsis from mid-June to early September. Keep it like the mainland saw stag, laying in a firmly packed set of black soil or fully fermented fine substrate. Males are aggressive and can kill females, but raising the brood is not difficult.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Size of the Tokunoshima Saw Stag Beetle
The Tokunoshima Saw Stag Beetle grows to Males 29-76.2 mm (wild record 76.2 mm; the captive record is 75.8 mm) / females 28-39 mm.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan (Tokunoshima, Kagoshima)
Lifespan
Adults live two to three months in the wild
Size
Males 29-76.2 mm (wild record 76.2 mm; the captive record is 75.8 mm) / females 28-39 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 (♂)
75.8 mm
Wild record (♂)
76.2 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Tokunoshima saw stag, captive 75.8 mm, ウベ 2023 / wild 76.2 mm, 林 辰彦; projected maximum 83 mm. Smallest wild record 25.2 mm, 酒井 舜 2023)
Notable localities
Tokunoshima (Kagoshima)
Regional subspecies
- Prosopocoilus dissimilis makinoi — Tokunoshima
The captive record of 75.8 mm has yet to pass the 76.2 mm wild record, and with a dream size of 83 mm there is room left to grow.
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) / Prosopocoilus dissimilis - Wikipedia (JA; sizes, ranges and biology of the seven subspecies)
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 makinoi Ichikawa et Fujita, 1985
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.
Tokunoshima Saw Stag Beetle Listings
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