The giraffe weevil is a weevil endemic to Madagascar. It derives its name from an extended neck, much like that of a giraffe.
While giraffe weevils are indigenous to Madagascar, they are also endemic, meaning they can be found only in one location. Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean, directly southeast from the eastern African coast. Because it’s home to many unique animals and invertebrates such as the giraffe beetle, it is a biodiversity hotspot. Despite its rarity, the giraffe weevil is not considered to be endangered or threatened by the human population or by predation from other species.
The bright red shell that covers the back of the giraffe weevil is called the elytra. It is a form of hardened forewing, although it is not formally a wing. The elytra forms a casing to protect the fragile hind wings that lay underneath, which are used for flying. To fly, the giraffe weevil, like any other flying beetle, will hold open the scarlet elytra as it lifts and then rotates its hindwings, which are made of a membranous material.
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