Xylotrupes australicus

Rhinoceros Beetle at Copmanhurst, NSW

Request use of media

Identification history

	Xylotrupes australicus	5 Jun 2025	MichaelMulvaney
	Xylotrupes australicus	28 Apr 2025	MazzV

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

I saw 4 of these Rhinoceros Beetles, (? Xylotrupes ulysses australicus ?), within a few days on this property at Copmanhurst NSW North Coast, when it is lucky to see 1 in an entire Summer. Most were a shiny jet black on top, (sighting 4666090 was more of a black-brown colour). There is a thin lateral line on the lower margin of the plate that the horns emanate from (photos 1, 2 & 3). The underside, too was predominantly black except the inner upper legs which were a dark plum colour, and under the thorax which was mostly covered in pale yellow hairs, and had a tan spot just forward of where the 2 front legs joined the thorax. This one got very noisy when disturbed, and positioned itself so that it was looking up towards the camera at a 45 degree angle, and acted as if it was trying to lunge at it.

Be the first to comment

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Places Copmanhurst, NSW

Sighting information

1 Abundance
MazzV Recorded by
Collections
MazzV NatureMapr New South Wales North Coast Scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) Beetles (Coleoptera) Insects

Additional information

grass Associated plant
25mm to 50mm Animal size

Species information

Xylotrupes australicus Scientific name
Rhinoceros Beetle Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 79m Recorded at altitude
Machine learning
External link More information
Synonyms
Xylotrupes australicus

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania