Apterocyclus kawaii

Paulsen & Hawks, 2014

Apterocyclus kawaii is a rare to Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. Only two specimens have been documented: one collected in 1978 from the Makaweli area, and another in 1996 from a footpath at 1000m elevation. The was described in 2014 by Paulsen & Hawks. It is one of the most poorly known stag beetles in the world due to extreme rarity and limited observations.

Apterocyclus kawaii by (c)
Paulsen M, Hawks D, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

A-review-of-the-primary-types-of-the-Hawaiian-stag-beetle-genus-Apterocyclus-Waterhouse-(Coleoptera-zookeys-433-077-g005 by Paulsen M, Hawks D. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

A-review-of-the-primary-types-of-the-Hawaiian-stag-beetle-genus-Apterocyclus-Waterhouse-(Coleoptera-zookeys-433-077-g004 by Paulsen M, Hawks D. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Identification

Can be identified by distinctive and front tibia. The specific characteristics of these features distinguish it from other Apterocyclus .

Images

Habitat

Montane forest areas on Kauai. The 1996 specimen was collected at 1000m elevation on a footpath, suggesting in upland regions. The 1978 specimen came from the Makaweli area.

Distribution

to the island of Kauai, Hawaiian Islands, USA.

Similar Taxa

Apterocyclus honoluluensisThe 1996 specimen of A. kawaii was initially discussed as a rediscovery of A. honoluluensis in a 1997 paper, indicating historical confusion between these .

More Details

Extreme rarity

With only two known specimens collected over 18 years apart, this is among the rarest described . No living have been confirmed, and its conservation status is effectively unknown.

Nomenclatural history

The was formally described in 2014, though specimens existed from 1978 and 1996. The 1996 specimen was initially misidentified in 1997 literature as belonging to A. honoluluensis.