Biology:Coprophanaeus lancifer

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Short description: Species of beetle


Coprophanaeus lancifer
Scarabaeoidea Coprophanaeus lancifer Linnaeus, 1767 profil copie.jpg
Scientific classification
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C. lancifer
Binomial name
Coprophanaeus lancifer
(Linnaeus, 1767)

Coprophanaeus lancifer is a large species of beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae (scarab beetles).[1] It is found widely in the Amazon rainforest in South America and it is often common.[1]

Description

Adults typically are 28–56 mm (1.1–2.2 in) long, with average being 44 mm (1.7 in).[1][2][3] This makes C. lancifer and the closely related C. ensifer some of the largest dung beetles in the world (together with certain Catharsius and Heliocopris) and the largest in the Americas.[1][4][5] This beetle has a horn on the head that is of similar size in males and females. It is usually dark metallic blue, but can rarely be metallic green.[1]

Behavior

Although part of the true dung beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae, C. lancifer primarily is a necrophage that feeds on vertebrate carcasses, although it also may feed on feces or occasionally even ripe fallen fruits.[1][6] They are paracoprids, meaning that adults dig tunnels into the soil under the carcass and move parts of this food source to a nest chamber where the eggs are laid. Because of their feeding on carrion, they are of interest to forensic entomology.[7] These crepuscular beetles are excellent diggers and good fliers.[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Edmonds, W.D.; Zidek, J. (2010). "A taxonomic review of the Neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)". Insecta Mundi 0129: 1–111. 
  2. Boilly, O.; Lapèze, J.; Dalens, P.-H.; Giuglaris, J.-L.; Touroult, J. (2016). "Les Phanaeini de Guyane: liste commentée, clés et iconographie (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)". COREP-France: Coléoptères de Guyane X: 86–97. 
  3. Schmidt, U.. "Coprophanaeus lancifer". http://www.kaefer-der-welt.com/coprophanaeus__lancifer.htm. 
  4. Maldaner, M.E.; Vaz-de-Mello, F.Z.; Takiya, D.M.; Ferreira, D.C. (2008). "Molecular Phylogeny of Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) d'Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) and the position of C. bellicosus". Insect Systematics & Evolution 51 (5): 241–255. doi:10.1163/1876312X-00002198. 
  5. Maldaner, M.E.; Vaz-de-Mello, F.Z.; Takiya, D.M.; Ferreira, D.C. (2019). "Genetic and chromatic variation of Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) ensifer (Germar, 1821) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)". Zoologischer Anzeiger 283: 150–160. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2019.09.001. 
  6. Chaboteaux, E. (2023). "First record of the largest copro-necrophagous beetle in South America (Coprophanaeus lancifer) feeding on fruits". Acta Amazonica 53 (2): 154–157. doi:10.1590/1809-4392202201651. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Ururahy-Rodrigues, A.; Rafael, J.A.; Wanderley, R.F.; Marques, H.; Pujol-Luz, J.R. (2008). "Coprophanaeus lancifer (Linnaeus, 1767) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) activity moves a man-size pig carcass: Relevant data for forensic taphonomy". Forensic Science International 182 (1–3): e19–e22. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.09.009. PMID 18990518. 

Wikidata ☰ Q14891082 entry