Platycerus caraboides is a species of stag beetle belonging to the family Lucanidae, subfamily Lucaninae.

Subspecies include: [1] These beetles are present in most of Europe (Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,[2] Luxembourg, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom), in Asia (China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Syria, Turkey) and in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) [3] Platycerus caraboides can reach a body length of about 9–13 mm (0.35–0.51 in).

Antennae are geniculate, with a club of 3 items, Jaws are denticulate at the inner edge and also in the male they are shorter than the head.

[4] This species can be easily distinguished as a stag beetle by its geniculate (elbowed) antennae.

Adults can mostly be encountered from May through July, flying around during the day in deciduous forests or staying on the ground on rotten branches.