Mecodema godzilla is a large-bodied ground beetle endemic to the North Island, New Zealand. It was described from two specimens, which are housed in two different entomological collections, the Auckland Museum and Lincoln University.
| Mecodema godzilla | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dorsal view of the male specimen (holotype) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Carabidae |
| Genus: | Mecodema |
| Species: | M. godzilla
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| Binomial name | |
| Mecodema godzilla Seldon & Buckley, 2019
| |
Diagnosis edit
Can be distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by:
- its size (34–36 mm long and 11.5–13 mm wide);
- elytra truncated by steep apical slope;
- lateral carina broad and reflexed upward the entire length.[1]
Description edit
Length 34.3–36.4 mm, pronotal width 10.1–11.2 mm, elytral width 11.7–12.9 mm. Colour of head and pronotum black to glossy black, elytra matte reddish-brown to matte black, ventrally (including legs) brown to matte black.[1]
Natural history edit
Found on the scree and tussock slopes of Mt Ruapehu.