No.64 Centaurus beetle

The Centaurus beetle is a large rhinoceros beetle of the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. The male carries a single cephalic horn and a forked thoracic horn; body length is 40-60 mm excluding the horn and up to about 85 mm including it. Larvae feed on rotting wood and humus, while adults gather at tree sap. In its range it is known as a pest of oil palm and coconut palm, and in some areas it is also eaten.

This specimen was CT-scanned at the request of BANDAI CO., LTD. The 3D data is used in the capsule toy series "Ikimono Daizukan Kabutomushi 11" (6 types). BANDAI CO., LTD. "Ikimono Daizukan Kabutomushi 11":https://gashapon.jp/dangomushi/special/beetle11/

In the individual that was CT scanned this time, hatching was interrupted midway through the process, with part of the back cracked and a small portion of the adult body protruding. The scan image shows the adult insect inside and that each part is still a size smaller than the shed shell. The wings are also still covered by the shell and have not yet fully emerged.

One can imagine that molting is a difficult process, especially in the top view image, where the waist area is caught in the shell. This condition suggests that hardening of the outer shell and environmental conditions may have prevented successful hatching.