Megaceras briansaltini

Megaceras briansaltini
Megaceras briansaltini
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Dynastinae
Tribe: Oryctini
Genus: Megaceras
Species: M. briansaltini
Binomial name
Megaceras briansaltini
Ratcliffe, 2007

Megaceras briansaltini, named in honor of Brian Saltin, son of entomologist Jochen-P. Saltin, is a Peruvian rhinoceros beetle with a horn surprisingly similar to that of the character Dim from Pixar's animated film, A Bug's Life (created eight years before the beetle's discovery), previously unseen in nature (coined the Dim Effect by its discoverer Brett C. Ratcliffe). It remains unclear whether this is a natural feature or a monstrosity, as only one specimen has been found.[1]

M. briansaltini was listed ninth in the top species of 2008 by the International Institute for Species Exploration.[2]

References

  1. ^ Brett C. Ratcliffe (2007). "A remarkable new species of Megaceras from Peru (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctini). The "Dim Effect": Nature mimicking art". The Coleopterists Bulletin 61 (3): 463–467. doi:10.1649/0010-065X(2007)61[463:ARNSOM]2.0.CO;2. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1091&context=entomologypapers. 
  2. ^ "Number 9 – Life Imitates Art: “Dim” Rhinoceros beetle". Top 10 New Species - 2008. Arizona State University. http://www.species.asu.edu/2008_species09. Retrieved September 19, 2010. 


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