Biology:Giraffe weevil
| Giraffe weevil | |
|---|---|
| |
| Trachelophorus giraffa | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Attelabidae |
| Genus: | Trachelophorus |
| Species: | T. giraffa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Trachelophorus giraffa Jekel, 1860
| |
The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a weevil endemic to Madagascar, however there are other unrelated weevil species vernacularly named 'giraffe weevil' in Asia, such as Cycnotrachelus flavotuberosus in Vietnam.
Description and ecology
It derives its name from an extended neck, much like that of a giraffe. The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, with the neck of the male typically being 2 to 3 times the length of that of the female. Most of the body is black with distinctive red elytra covering the flying wings. The total body length of the males is just under an inch (2.5 cm), among the longest for any attelabid species. The extended neck is an adaptation that assists in nest building and fighting.[1] To breed, females roll and secure a leaf of the host plant, Dichaetanthera cordifolia or Dichaetanthera arborea (a small tree in the family Melastomataceae), then lay one egg within the tube, before snipping it from the plant.[2]
References
- ↑ BBC (2011-02-04). "Bizarre Giraffe-Necked Weevils Fight for a Mate - Madagascar, Preview - BBC Two". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN-WjdA6uUo.
- ↑ Wills, Christopher (2010). The Darwinian Tourist: Viewing the World Through Evolutionary Eyes. OUP Oxford. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-19-958438-3. https://archive.org/details/darwiniantourist00will_0. "Trachelophorus ."
Wikidata ☰ Q289050 entry
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