Poland 2-ZLOTE (Y329)

Lucanus cervus is the best known species of stag beetle in Western Europe. There are something like 1,200 (or more) species of stag beetle among 350,000 known species of beetles. Some estimates put the total number of beetle species between 4 and 8 million. That's a lot of beetles.

The males are the ones with the large mandibles, and their total length can reach 100 mm. The females are half that size. Lucanus cervus is a threatened species, due to loss of forest habitat, where they live and breed in dead rotting trees. Their natural reaction when approached is to remain motionless, which makes them excellent subjects for photography.

This coin was issued one year only.