Hercules Beetle

Description:

This member of the rhinoceros family was about 5.5-6 inches long. It had a dark chestnut colored head and claw. The claw had light yellow-brown fur on the underside of the top of the claw. The body was a grayish green covered with a short fuzz that can be seen when the picture is enlarged. It has typical "Dr Seuss" style claws.

Habitat:

These are normally found by accident on the ground near trails or in the low branches of trees in the Amazon rainforest of SE Ecuador.

Notes:

I can't believe the dozens of these we've seen, that this is the only picture I have of one :-( They are pretty cool. We kept this for a few days so our kids could see it when they came back to the jungle. When they fly (the beetle, not our kids), the body hangs straight down with the head pointing up. No streamlining there. Please take time to watch how a Hercules Beetle is "born." It is incredible. - https://video.nationalgeographic.com/vid...