Cyclommatus canaliculatus reaches a length of about 28-53 millimetres in males, about 20 mm in females. The basic colour is dark red-brown or blackish. The mandibles are long and their outer margin is straight, while their inner margins are armed at about one third of its length with a strong tooth. The mandibles are finely granulated and sub-opaque, but the apical portion is glossy. The upper side of the head shows a large flattened depression. The sides of the prothorax have an angular tooth. The elytra are covered with punctures.

Cyclommatus is a genus of the Lucanidae family, also known as the stag beetle.

Male stag beetles bear one of the most extreme examples of male weaponry: their mandibles can be almost as long as their own body. We question whether the armature of male Cyclommatus metallifer negatively affects terrestrial locomotion (stability and cost).

The chief distinguishing characteristics of this genus are its impressive mandibles, which can sometimes be as long as its body, as well as its lustrous metallic exoskeleton, which can range from red, brown, green, purple, gold and a rarer blue-black.

Species of the genus Cyclommatus are distributed mainly in Southeast Asia, a region characterized by tropical and subtropical climate. Most members of this genus have a strong positive phototaxis and are deeply attracted to light traps. These species are diurnal, and they feed on the sap of tall herbaceous plants or woody plants by scratching the surface with their mandibles they also gather flowers of specific genera of Theaceae.

The family Lucanidae is a monophyletic group in which it evolved from a unique ancestor or group of ancestors. The genus Cyclommatus is thought to have diverged around 50-20 million years ago, with the average being 33.2 million years ago.

Male beetles of genus Cyclommatus are generally larger than females of the same species, and exhibit brighter and lustrous exoskeletons compared to females. Some species of this genus also colour polymorphic and as such exhibit a wide variety of different colours within the same species, which can range from red, brown, green, purple, gold and a rarer blue-black.

Males of a larger size, or major males, relative to their respective species in this genus exhibit enlarged mandibles. These enlarged mandibles are used for scratching the surfaces of bark to allow the beetle to feed on tree sap, or to compete with other males for mates. Males with larger mandibles are more likely to win these fights, which often involves throwing the competitor off of branches and leaves.

Due to their smaller mandibles and need to chew through decaying wood to lay eggs, female beetles of this genus werte thought to have a greater biting force. However, the biting force of the males can in fact exceed the biting force of the females, for example, the biting force of Cyclommatus metallifer males was found to be 3 times that of females.Male beetles of genus Cyclommatus are generally larger than females of the same species, and exhibit brighter and lustrous exoskeletons compared to females. Some species of this genus also colour polymorphic and as such exhibit a wide variety of different colours within the same species, which can range from red, brown, green, purple, gold and a rarer blue-black.