Grote tandklauw
Calathus ambiguus
Grote tandklauw (Calathus ambiguus) is a medium-sized ground beetle belonging to the family Carabidae, characterized by its dark metallic coloration and distinctive mandible structure that gives it its Dutch name meaning 'large tooth claw'. This nocturnal predator plays a crucial ecological role as both hunter of smaller invertebrates and prey for birds, amphibians, and spiders in its ecosystem.
32
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Carabidae
Genus
Calathus
Grote tandklauw belongs to the family Carabidae, order Coleoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Grote tandklauw (Calathus ambiguus) is a medium-sized ground beetle belonging to the family Carabidae, characterized by its dark metallic coloration and distinctive mandible structure that gives it its Dutch name meaning 'large tooth claw'. This nocturnal predator plays a crucial ecological role as both hunter of smaller invertebrates and prey for birds, amphibians, and spiders in its ecosystem.
Calathus ambiguus, known as Grote tandklauw, is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized coastal dune and sandy grassland environments. The species faces severe population decline from urban development, agricultural intensification, and changes in land management practices that have eliminated or fragmented its remaining habitat patches.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Calathus ambiguus inhabits moist, undisturbed areas along forest edges, particularly in leaf litter and under fallen logs in deciduous and mixed woodlands. The species also occurs in traditional extensively managed grasslands with scattered shrubs and in the transition zones between agricultural fields and natural vegetation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Calathus ambiguus, known as Grote tandklauw, is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized coastal dune and sandy grassland environments. The species faces severe population decline from urban development, agricultural intensification, and changes in land management practices that have eliminated or fragmented its remaining habitat patches.
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Changes in traditional land management practices
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat loss from urban development
Climate change impacts on coastal habitats
Found in 32 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Grote tandklauw (Calathus ambiguus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/grote-tandklauw