Giant Rhinoceros Beetle

The Giant Rhinoceros Beetle is found in Otherworld and has been domesticated for riding as well as being a beast of burden. Smaller sub-species are most often used for transportation much like a horse or other riding animal, while the larger varieties are utilized for pulling carts, carriages, plows and other farming implements. Their massive strength and size, along with their protective carapace, make them extremely hardy work animals. They are more maneuverable than horses or similar mounts, however they lack the speed of their quadrupedal counterparts.   The purchase cost of a giant beetle is comparable to that of a well-trained horse, although the feeding cost is lower since the beetles eat old fruits and vegetables, organic mulch and rotting wood as well as grasses and grains.   Training is often a mix of food-based training and training by a mage or mage apprentice with the appropriate skill to train animals.