African Rhinoceros Beetle vs African Giant Tiger Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Rhinoceros Beetle African Giant Tiger Beetle
Scientific Name Oryctes boas Manticora herculeana
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Carabidae
Size 35-55 mm 40-65 mm
Habitat Gardens Deserts & Drylands
Diet Sap Feeders Predators
Regions West Africa, Central Africa Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Rhinoceros Beetle

A large dark brown dynastine beetle with a prominent recurved horn on the male's head. Larvae develop in decaying palm trunks and compost.

💡

Did You Know?

Males use their horns to pry rivals out of feeding holes on palm trees in fierce pushing contests.

African Giant Tiger Beetle

The largest tiger beetle in the world, entirely black with enormous sickle-shaped mandibles. It is flightless and hunts by running down prey on sandy ground in southern Africa.

💡

Did You Know?

Its mandibles are so powerful they can draw blood from a human finger, and despite being flightless, it can sprint at impressive speeds to chase down prey.