This rare stag beetle is associated with well-preserved, natural forests in submontane and montane areas. Considered a primeval forest relict, it depends on the continued availability of suitable decaying wood. In the Czech Republic, it occurs mainly in border mountain regions, including Šumava, Jeseníky and the Beskydy Mountains. Adults are approximately 15 mm long, with a shiny black body and longitudinally grooved wing cases. Males have a broader head and more prominent mandibles than females. The beetles are active during the day and can be found from April to August on the trunks in which their larvae develop. Larvae develop in moist, decaying wood affected by brown-rot fungi, favouring large- diameter logs in advanced stages of decomposition. They inhabit both coniferous and deciduous trees, including fir, spruce, beech and birch. Development usually takes two to three years but may last up to five years. The species is classified as Endangered according to the Czech Red List. Its conservation requires a continuous supply of suitable dead wood. Protecting its habitat also benefits other saproxylic organisms, making it a useful umbrella species for the conservation of natural mountain forests.