Lucanus kanoi kavulunganus subsp. nov. Type material. Holotype. An adult male (Fig. 8 A, B), 41.44 mm, collected on Kuaigu, 2140 m elevation, Mt. Beidawushan, Pingtung County, Taiwan (Fig. 2; Table 2; 22°36.93'N, 120°44.53'E), 20 June 2023 by Ting-Yang Chien, Yi-Ting Chung, Zong-Yu He and Jing-Jie Lo. Deposited in Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI, Wufeng, Taiwan). Paratypes. Paratype 1, an adult male with the femur orange plaque, 36.65 mm (Fig. 8 C, D). Collected in type locality 18 June 2024 by Yu-Fang Tsai. Deposited in Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI, Wufeng, Taiwan). Paratype 2, an adult female, 35.50 mm, (Fig. 8 E, F). Collected in type locality 6 June 2024 by Yu-Fang Tsai. Deposited in Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI, Wufeng, Taiwan). A total of 44 specimens (37 males and 7 females) are designated as paratypes in this study. All paratypes were collected from the type locality. The sampling periods and numbers of specimens collected are as follows: 7 June 2014, 2 males 1 female; 25 June 2018, 8 males 1 female; 27 June 2022, 4 males 1 female; 20 June 2023, 3 males 2 females; 6 June 2024, 3 males 1 female; 9 June 2024, 3 males; 18 June 2024, 9 males; 22 June 2024, 2 males; 23 June 2024, 4 males 1 female. The specimens are deposited in the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the Biological Museum of the University of Taipei (BMUT), and will be transferred to other museums later. Diagnosis. A moderately sized species of Lucanus. Males measure 36.22 ± 3.69 mm in body length (range: 28.07–46.79 mm; n = 38), while females measure 34.53 ± 2.44 mm (range: 30.90–37.17 mm; n = 7). This species is morphologically similar to L. kanoi kanoi, but males are slightly smaller and females slightly larger. The molecular phylogenetics based on the two mtDNA markers showed an early divergence of the subspecies from L. kanoi kanoi (Suppl. material 7). Male. Clypeolabrum shorter and broader than in L. kanoi kanoi, with the labrum clearly separated from the clypeus laterally. Lateral angles of clypeus distinct; frontal ridge indistinct. Elytra glossy, predominantly blackish; a few individuals are reddish brown. Mandibles straight, slightly incurved inward, with a distinct basal tooth positioned close to the base and clearly separated from the adjacent tooth, the basal tooth of the mandible is situated approximately at the basal 1 / 3–1 / 4 of its length. Ventral surface between meso- and metacoxae covered with dense, short, yellowish pubescence. Legs blackish to dark brown, matching the coloration of the ventral body surface. A minority of individuals (12 / 38; 31.6 %) exhibit a yellowish to dark orange plaque on the ventral side of the femora, but this trait is inconsistent and not taxonomically informative (Figs 8, 9, Table 3, Suppl. material 1). Female. Externally similar to L. kanoi kanoi. Anterior angles of head sharp and distinct. Inner tooth of left mandible single-pointed. Posterior margin of canthus inconspicuous. Head punctation coarse and distinct. Elytra matte, blackish to dark brown. Pronotum not widened at anterior third; evenly rounded anteriorly. Metasternum covered with short pubescence. Femora uniformly dark, lacking the yellowish to orange plaque observed in some males (Figs 8 E, 8 F, 9 C, 9 D). Genitalia. Male. In dorsal view, the cephalic process of the paramere is stout. The apical duct and basal belt of the flagellum together measure ~ 1.4 times in length. The ventral plate of the basal piece is well developed and elongate, exhibiting a shallow median concavity and extending distinctly beyond the caudal margin of the basal piece. The ventral plate of the ninth abdominal segment is markedly constricted anterior to the caudal expansion. The flagellum is comparable in length to that of L. k. kanoi or L. piceus. In lateral view, the apex of the paramere is not emarginate (Fig. 3, Table 3). Female. Female genitalia do not exhibit significant differences from those of closely related species, including L. k. kanoi, L. piceus, and L. ogakii (Huang and Chen 2010). The spermathecal duct is ~ 2.5 × the length of the spermatheca and 1.5 × the length of the hemisternite. The spermatheca, which is sclerotized, measures 0.5–0.7 × the length of the hemisternite. The spermathecal duct is weakly sclerotized. The spermathecal gland is distinctly broader than the spermatheca and nearly equal in length. The central portion of the ninth tergite is weakly to strongly produced posteriorly. The lateral angles of the terminal abdominal tergite are indistinct, and the terminal abdominal ventrite is medially excavated. Description. This subspecies, L. kanoi kavulunganus is very similar to L. kanoi kanoi but slightly smaller. General morphological characteristics, genital anatomy, and color variation are shown in Figs 3, 8, 9, Table 3. The “ odd ” orange plaque on the femur of male individuals (see description of related taxa in this article) has the highest occurrence rate, with more than 30 % of males (31.58 %, 12 of 38) exhibiting this characteristic, although this feature is not a reliable basis for taxonomy (Fig. 9, Table 3, Suppl. material 1). Etymology. The name kavulunganus refers to the type locality of this species, Mt. Beidawushan. “ Kavulungan ” is the name given to Mt. Beidawushan by the indigenous Paiwan people. Distribution. This small subspecies of L. kanoi is currently known to be distributed only in the highland primeval broad-leaved forest areas near Kuaigu on Mt. Beidawushan, with an altitude range of ca 2000 to 2200 meters a. s. l. (Fig. 2, Table 2). Ecology. Adults are primarily active in June. By comparing the monthly average temperature isotherms for June with the species’ altitudinal range, it is inferred that this stag beetle tends to inhabit cooler environments (Suppl. material 8). Conservation status. Not evaluated (NE). Remarks. Based on observations and descriptions from climbers, it is believed that this subspecies is also present on Mt. Nandawushan (Pinayuanan: Itamilimilingan), though confirmation is needed. Compiled from data in Table 2. Taiwan, Pingtung County, Mt. Beidawushan, lat: 22.6155, long: 120.742165, elev: 2140; BDW; (Table 2).

Published as part of Wu, Shu-Ping, Tsai, Yu-Fang, Chien, Ting-Yang, Chung, Yi-Ting, Lai, Ching-Jung, Hou, Tsung-Hsien & Hwang, Chung-Chi, 2026, Systematic revision and biogeography of the endemic Lucanus kanoi species complex (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) from Taiwan, with the description of a new subspecies, pp. 77-117 in ZooKeys 1267 on pages 77-117, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1267.160494