'Carabus violaceus' and 'Carabus purpurascens' are considered by some authors (Rautenstrauch) as a separate species, or 'Megondontus purpurascens' and 'Megodontus violacues'. In Turin et al., 'purpurascens' is considered as a subspecies of Megodontus violaceus or Carabus violaceus.

Carabus purpurasecens occurs in the Western part of Europe and has a more pronounced elytral structure with fine stripes. Carabus violaceus has an almost flat elytral structure.

This individual belongs to the intermediate form, Carabus violaceus mixtus neomixtus, which is found in the Forêt de Saou ('natio saouensis' according to Forel & Leplat).