{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}} {{short description|Species of beetle}} {{About|the Asian beetle|other uses|Atlas (disambiguation)}} {{Speciesbox | name = Atlas beetle | image = Atlas Beetle - Zachi Evenor.jpg | image_caption = | genus = Chalcosoma | species = atlas | authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) }}

The '''Atlas beetle''' ('''''Chalcosoma atlas''''') is a very large species of beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, found in Southeast Asia. Males have three prominent horns. The species is named for Atlas, the giant of Greek mythology who supported the skies.

==Description== thumb|Atlas beetle ''Chalcosoma atlas'', like other beetles of the genus ''Chalcosoma'', is remarkable for its size. As is common in the Scarabaeidae, males are larger than the females, reaching a length of about {{convert|60|-|120|mm}}; females are about {{convert|25|-|60|mm}}. Males have specialised horns on their head and thorax that they use to fight with each other, to gain mating rights with females. The Atlas beetle differs from other ''Chalcosoma'' species (such as ''C. caucasus'') by the broader end of the cephalic (head) horn.

==Larvae== The larva of the Atlas beetle is known for its fierce behavior, including biting if touched. Unverified reports exist of larvae that live together fighting to the death if they have insufficient space or food.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}

==Distribution== ''Chalcosoma atlas'' is found in Southeast Asia.

==Parasitoids==

The species is the host of a parasitoid, the giant scoliid wasp ''Megascolia procer'', which has a paralysing venom.<ref name="Piek2013">{{cite book |last=Piek |first=Tom |title=Venoms of the Hymenoptera: Biochemical, Pharmacological and Behavioural Aspects |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xBQlBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA161 |date=22 October 2013 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-1-4832-6370-0 |page=173}}</ref>

==Subspecies== *''Chalcosoma atlas atlas'' (Linnaeus, 1758)- Sulawesi *''Chalcosoma atlas butonensis'' Nagai, 2004- Buton island *''Chalcosoma atlas keyboh'' Nagai, 2004- Malaysia and Sumatra *''Chalcosoma atlas mantetsu'' Nagai, 2004- Thailand and Vietnam *''Chalcosoma atlas simeuluensis'' Nagai, 2004- Simeulue island *''Chalcosoma atlas sintae'' Nagai, 2004- Peleng islands *''Chalcosoma atlas hesperus'' (Erichson, 1834)- Philippines

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Descent of Man - Figure 16.jpg|Sexual dimorphism in ''Chalcosoma atlas''. From Darwin's ''The Descent of Man'', 2nd edn. 1882. File:Scarabaeidae - Chalcosoma atlas.JPG|Males of ''Chalcosoma atlas'' File:Scarabaeidae - Chalcosoma atlas-1.JPG|Females of ''Chalcosoma atlas'' File:Chalcosoma atlas (13476479993).jpg|Male, showing broadened cephalic horn </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Wikispecies-inline|Chalcosoma atlas}} *{{Commons-inline}} *[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id322855/ Biolib] *Kazuo Kawano [http://www.ugr.es/~jmgreyes/character%20displacement%20beetles.pdf Character Displacement in Giant Rhinoceros Beetles]

{{Coleoptera}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1340892}}

Category:Dynastinae Category:Beetles described in 1758 Category:Beetles of Asia Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus