Sabertooth longhorn beetles (Macrodontia cervicornis) are one of the longest beetles in the world. Including the serrated jaws of males (like this one), they can reach 7 in (17.8 cm) long!🪲 Living in humid rain forests in the Amazon River basin from Brazil west to Peru and Ecuador, these beetles are at risk. In recent decades, millions of acres of Amazon rain forest have been cut down to make way for cattle ranches, soybean fields, and other uses. The beetles are also a collector’s item—a single specimen can go for thousands of dollars; the practice of collecting these long-lived beetles is another cause of their decline. The Museum's upcoming special exhibition Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril, will feature uniquely powerful macrophotography by Levon Biss (@levonbiss), which highlights 40 incredible but imperiled species from specimens in the Museum's world-class research collection, including the sabertooth longhorn beetle, in large-format photographs, some as large as 4.5 by 8 feet. Check out the link in our bio to learn more about this special exhibition which opens on June 22. Photo: © Levon Biss #AnimalFacts #nature #amnh #beetles #LonghornBeetle #SabertoothLonghornBeetle #insects #bugs #entomology #dyk (at American Museum of Natural History) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeWAcCYLmO-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=