Platycerus depressus LeConte, 1850: 224. (orig. comb.
P. piceus Kirby, 1837: 141 (invalid name, misidentification)
P. helopioides Dejean 1836: 194 (nomen nudum)

...P. depressus LeConte, male. .Photo by M.J. Paulsen	.....Approximate distribution of P. depressus.

Distribution: Boreal North America: Northeastern United States and Maritime Provinces of Canada west to the Rocky Mountains and south to New Mexico.

Benesh, B. 1946. A systematic revision of the Holarctic genus Platycerus Geoffroy (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 63: 139-203.

Van Dyke, E.C. 1928. Notes and descriptions of new species of Lucanidae and Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from western North America. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 4: 105-113.

Remarks:

The correct name for the aspen stag beetle is Platycerus depressus LeConte. Benesh (1946) erroneously used the name P. piceus Kirby, but that name is not available, but it is invalid because it is based on a misidentification of Ceruchus piceus (Weber).

This species is very similar to P. marginalis Casey, which has less striate elytra and has a strong apical tooth on the male mandibles. The two species are roughly distributed on either side of the continental divide.