What kind of beetle

[DZ-Y]

Hi,

I was in the Algarve in Portugal this spring when I came across this beauty . Does anyone have a clue what it is?

thanks Harmen

 

[Draven]

looks to me like a Ground Beetle; a Carabidae I believe. There are multiple subspecies I think, not sure what this beetle belongs to. Certainly is a cool 'un

 

[Brocktor]

i looked in my book, its a stag beetle, a male. females dont have the 'antlers', which are enlarged jaws used to fight over females. it can fly.
i saw a devils coach horse beetle this summer, and a water beetle swimming.

 

[leon-b]

stag beetles are quite rare nowadays
leon

 

[redcollective]

A stag beetle of some kind? There are well over a thousand.