Dung Beetle Genus Research Articles

Beyond natural language: an ontology-based description of a new Scarabaeus dung beetle from Madagascar (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae).

The dung beetle genus Scarabaeus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae, Scarabaeini), predominantly found in the arid regions of the Old World, includes three endemic species inhabiting the dry ecosystems of western and southern Madagascar. These species are presumed to form a monophyletic clade nested within the African Scarabaeus.Semantic modelling of phenotypes using ontologies represents a transformative approach to species description in biology, making phenotypic data FAIR and computable. The recently developed Phenoscript language enables the creation of semantic, computable species descriptions using a syntax akin to human natural language (NL). However, Phenoscript has not yet been tested as a tool for describing new taxa. In this study, we test the utility of Phenoscript by describing a new species, Scarabaeus (sensu lato) sakalava sp. nov. from Madagascar. The initial description is composed directly in Phenoscript, replacing the traditional natural language format. This Phenoscript description is then translated into a human-readable form using the Phenospy tool for publication purposes. Additionally, the Phenoscript description is converted into an RDF graph, making it understandable by computers using semantic technologies.Scarabaeussakalava sp. nov. is found in western central Madagascar and is closely related to S.viettei (Paulian, 1953) from north-western Madagascar. We provide an updated identification key and distribution map for all Malagasy Scarabaeus and discuss their systematic placement.

Correction to: Microallopatric speciation in the relict dung beetle genus Grebennikovius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the Eastern Arc Mountains

Correction to: Microallopatric speciation in the relict dung beetle genus <i>Grebennikovius</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the Eastern Arc Mountains

Microallopatric speciation in the relict dung beetle genus Grebennikovius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the Eastern Arc Mountains

Abstract The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAMs) in Tanzania and Kenya are renowned for their exceptional species endemism often restricted to isolated mountain blocks. Forest fragmentation during the Pliocene–Pleistocene played a significant role in shaping the EAMs’ biodiversity by facilitating allopatric speciation between different mountains. However, only a few studies focused on species diversification within the same mountain block. In this article, we investigated the taxonomy and evolution of the dung beetle genus Grebennikovius, endemic to the Uluguru Mountains. Our goal was to unravel factors promoting allopatric speciation within a confined geographic area like the Ulugurus. We used an integrative taxonomic approach, combining phenotypic data and COI barcodes to delimit species and reconstructed a timetree of the genus. Molecular and morphological evidence consistently recovered 4 distinct Grebennikovius species, of which 3 are new to science: G. armiger n. sp., G. basilewskyi (Balthasar, 1960), G. lupanganus n. sp., and G. pafelo n. sp. Grebennikovius represents a rare case of microallopatry, with all species occurring in close proximity within different regions of the limited Uluguru forest (∼230 km2). We infer that speciation was driven by the interplay between climate fluctuations during the Miocene and mid-Pleistocene, Uluguru topography, and the stability of rainforest ecological conditions. The latter factor probably favored the loss of wings and a specialization for Uluguru microhabitats, reinforcing population isolation and divergence. This study highlights a unique instance of diversification resulting from small-scale speciation events, providing valuable insights into the evolution of Eastern African rainforest arthropods and underscoring the importance of microhabitats conservation.

Towards computable taxonomic knowledge: Leveraging nanopublications for sharing new synonyms in the Madagascan genus Helictopleurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae).

Numerous taxonomic studies have focused on the dung beetle genus Helictopleurus d'Orbigny, 1915, endemic to Madagascar. However, this genus stilll needs a thorough revision. Semantic technologies, such as nanopublications, hold the potential to enhance taxonomy by transforming how data are published and analysed. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of nanopublications in establishing synonyms within the genus Helictopleurus. In this study, we identify four new synonyms within Helictopleurus: H.rudicollis (Fairmaire, 1898) = H.hypocrita Balthasar, 1941 syn. nov.; H.vadoni Lebis, 1960 = H.perpunctatus Balthasar, 1963 syn. nov.; H.halffteri Balthasar, 1964 = H.dorbignyi Montreuil, 2005 syn. nov.; H.clouei (Harold, 1869) = H.gibbicollis (Fairmaire, 1895) syn. nov. Helictopleurus may have a significantly larger number of synonyms than currently known, indicating potentially inaccurate estimates about its recent extinction.We also publish the newly-established synonyms as nanopublications, which are machine-readable data snippets accessible online. Additionally, we explore the utility of nanopublications in taxonomy and demonstrate their practical use with an example query for data extraction.

A new genus and species in the diverse dung beetle tribe Onthophagini Streubel, 1846 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from South Africa.

A new dung beetle genus and species is described and pictured following its recent discovery on a farm in South Africa. Hathor spinosa Deschodt, new species belongs to the subfamily Scarabaeinae, tribe Onthophagini Streubel, 1846, it shows a unique set of characters. A map is provided to show the type locality of the new genus and species that has a putative association with ants.

Predicted and recorded distribution maps of the genus Phanaeus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Supplementary material of Distribution, Regionalization, and Diversity of the dung beetle genus Phanaeus MacLeay (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) using Species Distribution Models

Predicted and recorded distribution maps of the genus Phanaeus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Supplementary material of Distribution, Regionalization, and Diversity of the dung beetle genus Phanaeus MacLeay (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) using Species Distribution Models

Distribution, Regionalization, and Diversity of the dung beetle genus Phanaeus MacLeay (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) using Species Distribution Models

The genus Phanaeus is a well-known group whose taxonomy has been described multiple times. Its distribution was previously classified into 11 ecogeographic groups that are equivalent to areas of endemism. Here we use Species Distribution Models to describe species richness patterns. We measured beta-diversity and regionalized its distribution into one region and one transition zone, both with three dominions: Mexican Transition Zone (North American, Mexican, and Mesoamerican dominions) and Neotropical region (Pacific, Brazilian, and Atlantic Forest dominions). We also present a species checklist and updated the distribution maps for 73 of 81 species described so far that reflects all the taxonomical updates. We include a list of all the recorded locations (by country, state, and province), list the recorded habitats and biomes, and describe the modelled environmental conditions for each species.

The Dung Beetle Oxyomus of Taiwan (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): Review of the Fauna, a New Species and its Larva Associated by DNA Barcoding.

The Taiwanese fauna of the dung beetle genus Oxyomus Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) is reviewed based on museum specimens and newly collected material. Four species, all endemic to Taiwan, are recognized, one of which is newly described here: O. alligator sp. nov. Remaining species are diagnosed, compared with similar relatives from outside of Taiwan, and their distribution is mapped. We show that Taiwanese Oxyomus species form three distinct morphological groups, similar to species from Japan, SE Asia and Malay Archipelago, respectively, indicating a possible composite origin of Taiwanese fauna. The species occur in submontane and montane forests at altitudes of 700-2550 m including the secondary Cryptomeria ones. Available data confirm their association with dung of various forest mammals (monkeys, muntjacs and serows), although the discovery of larvae in sifted forest leaf litter may indicate they can also develop in nutrient-rich substrate around the dung. The larva of O. alligator sp. nov. is described in detail, based on the larval specimens associated with adults by DNA barcodes. Larvae of Oxyomus alligator sp. nov. are similar to those of the European O. sylvestris (Scopoli, 1763), with important differences only found on maxilla and abdominal apex.

Taxonomy of Phanaeus revisited: Revised keys to and comments on species of the New World dung beetle genus Phanaeus MacLeay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Phanaeini)

Taxonomy of Phanaeus revisited: Revised keys to and comments on species of the New World dung beetle genus Phanaeus MacLeay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Phanaeini)

Genome sequencing reveals extraordinary cephalic horns in the Madagascan dung beetle genus Helictopleurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae): insight from a revision of fungicola species group.

In this study, we test and corroborate the phylogenetic position of Heterosyphus within Helictopleurus using mitogenomes and nuclear loci. Our recent samplings revealed that males of the former Heterosyphussicardi Paulian, 1975 (today under Helictopleurus d’Orbigny, 1915) have extraordinary bilateral clypeal horns which are exclusive within the genus. We provide a taxonomic review of the fungicola species group of Helictopleurus and discuss the systematic position of H.sicardi within the group. The male phenotype of H.sicardi is described and photographs of the body and genitalia of the members of the fungicola group are given, as well as a diagnostic key to species of the group. Helictopleurusfungicolapeyrierasi is considered to be a distinct species within the genus (H.peyrierasistat. rest.). Helictopleuruspluristriatus d’Orbigny, 1915 syn. nov. is established as a junior synonym of H.fungicola (Fairmaire, 1899).

Historical diversification and biogeography of the endemic southern African dung beetle genus, Epirinus (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Abstract The role of the geological uplift and climatic changes during the late Cenozoic on the species diversification of southern African dung beetles is not fully understood. Therefore, we use a divergence-time-estimated phylogeny, macroevolutionary analyses and ecological niche modelling under different climatic scenarios to investigate diversification of the endemic southern African genus, Epirinus. We predict the ancestral range and vegetation type occupied by Epirinus and how late Cenozoic climatic fluctuations and resulting vegetation changes affected speciation and extinction of Epirinus species. Our results suggest that the genus originated in forest with radiation into three geographical centres: (a) north-east escarpment forest and highland grassland; (b) south-east forest; and (c) south-west lowlands to north-east uplands in open vegetation. Reduced speciation rates in the mid-Miocene and increased extinction rates during the drier and cooler Plio-Pleistocene coincide with the replacement of forest by grassland or savanna in southern Africa. The drier climate in southern Africa may have driven extensive contraction of shaded vegetation, forcing an adaptation of forest inhabitants to upland grassland environments, or driving Epirinus species to extinction. Our study supports hypothesis of climatically driven diversification of Epirinus whereas ecological niche modelling across different geological periods suggest that the south-east and, to a lesser extent, the west coast of South Africa as stable areas.

Hindgut microbiota reflects different digestive strategies in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae).

Gut microbes play an important role in the biology and evolution of insects. Australian native dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) present an opportunity to study gut microbiota in an evolutionary context as they come from two distinct phylogenetic lineages and some species in each lineage have secondarily adapted to alternative or broader diets. In this study, we characterised the hindgut bacterial communities found in 21 species of dung beetles across two lineages using 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that gut microbial diversity was more dependent on host phylogeny and gut morphology than specific dietary preferences or environment. In particular, gut microbial diversity was highest in the endemic, flightless genus Cephalodesmius that feeds on a broad range of composted organic matter. The hindgut of Cephalodesmius harbours a highly conserved core set of bacteria suggesting that the bacteria are symbiotic. Symbiosis is supported by the persistence of the core microbiota across isolated beetle populations and between species in the genus. A co-evolutionary relationship is supported by the expansion of the hindgut to form a fermentation chamber and the fermentative nature of the core microbes. In contrast, Australian species of the widespread dung beetle genus Onthophagus, specialise on a single food resource such as dung or fungus, exhibit minimal food processing behaviour, have a short, narrow hindgut and a variable gut microbiota with relatively few core bacterial taxa. A conserved, complex gut microbiota is hypothesised to be unnecessary for this highly mobile genus.IMPORTANCE Dung beetles are a very important part of an ecosystem because of their role in the removal and decomposition of vertebrate dung. It has been suspected that symbiotic gut bacteria facilitate this role, a hypothesis that we have explored with high throughput barcoding. We found that differences in hindgut morphology had the greatest effect on the bacterial community composition. Species with a hindgut fermentation chamber harboured a distinctly different hindgut community compared to those species with a narrow, undifferentiated hindgut. Diet and phylogeny were also associated with differences in gut community. Further understanding of the relationships between dung beetles and their gut microbes will provide insights into the evolution of their behaviours and how gut communities contribute to their fitness.

Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): review of the L. ustulatus, L. storeyi, and L. nitidus species groups and description of eight new species.

This publication is the third part of an ongoing revision of Australian species of the genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) and revises three species groups. Keys to species within the L. ustulatus, L. storeyi, and L. nitidus species groups are provided and eight new species are described. Within the L. ustulatus species group, L. ustulatus (Lansberge, 1874) and L. globulus (Macleay, 1887) are redescribed and three new species are described: Lepanus cameroni new species from Cape York Peninsula, far north Queensland; Lepanus cardwellensis new species from the Australian Wet Tropics, northern Queensland; and Lepanus lemannae new species from the Australian Wet Tropics to the Central Mackay Coast, Queensland. Within the L. storeyi species group, L. storeyi Weir Monteith, 2010 is redescribed and two new species are described: Lepanus meierae new species from southeastern Queensland to Wollongong, New South Wales and Lepanus williamsi new species from eastern New South Wales. Within the L. nitidus species group, L. nitidus Matthews 1974 and L. dichrous Gillet, 1925 are redescribed and three new species are described: Lepanus vangerweni new species, Lepanus carbinensis new species, and Lepanus kulki new species from the Australian Wet Tropics, northern Queensland. Following these descriptions, a total of 50 Lepanus species are now described from Australia.

Evolutionary history and eco‐climatic diversification in southern African dung beetle Sisyphus

AbstractAimThe high diversity of species in southern Africa has been attributed to geological and palaeoclimatic factors. The timing of radiations in some groups is held to be linked to these geoclimatic trends. Using the Scarabaeinae dung beetle genus, Sisyphus, as a model system, we investigate how geological uplift and climatic changes in the late Cenozoic affected its diversification patterns in southern Africa.LocationSouthern Africa.TaxonThe dung beetle genus, Sisyphus Latreille, 1807 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae).MethodsA dated molecular phylogeny of southern African Sisyphus was compared with a factor analysis of species distribution data that statistically defined groups of species according to current climatic distribution. We used these climatic clusters to estimate ancestral ranges using the “BioGeoBEARS” R package. A lineage through time plot was calculated using the R package ‘APE’. We used Bayesian diversification models (compound Poisson process on mass extinction times) to test hypotheses on how late Cenozoic uplift and climatic changes affected speciation and extinction of Sisyphus. Furthermore, we implemented ecological niche modelling in MaxEnt to predict the habitat suitability of species under present climatic conditions.ResultsFour species groups defined from factor analysis of current climatic distribution data are primarily restricted to the moist summer rainfall region in the northeast. Species diversification occurred from the mid‐Miocene until the Pleistocene, during which the central southern African plateau was uplifted in tandem with the advent of winter rainfall and arid climatic zones to the southwest. The ancestor of Sisyphus was centred in eastern low to mid‐altitude areas. Speciation rates were higher in the Miocene to Pliocene, followed by a dramatic drop during the transition to the Pleistocene.Main conclusionsThe taxonomic and eco‐climatic diversification of sisyphines is coincident with geological uplift and changes in climate in east‐central southern Africa. However, phylogenetic relationships of southern African Sisyphus species are not homogenously distributed with respect to geography and climate.

Taxonomic Revision of the Rare South American Dung Beetle Genus Holocanthon Martínez et Pereira, 1956 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Deltochilini)

Holocanthon is a dung beetle genus distributed across South American open environments such as the Humid Chaco, the Brazilian Cerrado and the Argentinian Espinal, as well as some more forested localities in the southern Atlantic Forest and in the Bolivian and Argentinian Yungas. Considered monospecific for more than 60 years, the genus now includes two species: H. fuscorubrus (Blanchard, 1846), new comb. (= H. mateui Martinez et Pereira, 1956, new junior subjective synonym), from Paraguay, Argentina and southern Brazil, and H. giosilvai Sawaris, Cupello & Vaz-de-Mello sp. nov., known only from three distant localities in Bolivia and southern Brazil. The lectotype of Canthon fuscorubrus is herein designated from the only known syntype, while the holotype and the rest of the type series of H. mateui is deemed to be lost.

Developmental bias in horned dung beetles and its contributions to innovation, adaptation, and resilience.

Developmental processes transduce diverse influences during phenotype formation, thereby biasing and structuring amount and type of phenotypic variation available for evolutionary processes to act on. The causes, extent, and consequences of this bias are subject to significant debate. Here we explore the role of developmental bias in contributing to organisms' ability to innovate, to adapt to novel or stressful conditions, and to generate well integrated, resilient phenotypes in the face of perturbations. We focus our inquiry on one taxon, the horned dung beetle genus Onthophagus, and review the role developmental bias might play across several levels of biological organization: (a) gene regulatory networks that pattern specific body regions; (b) plastic developmental mechanisms that coordinate body wide responses to changing environments and; (c) developmental symbioses and niche construction that enable organisms to build teams and to actively modify their own selective environments. We posit that across all these levels developmental bias shapes the way living systems innovate, adapt, and withstand stress, in ways that can alternately limit, bias, or facilitate developmental evolution. We conclude that the structuring contribution of developmental bias in evolution deserves further study to better understand why and how developmental evolution unfolds the way it does.

New southern African species and a revalidation in the dung beetle genus Gyronotus van Lansberge, 1874 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) with an updated key.

Three new species are described in the genus Gyronotus van Lansberge, 1874 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), from upland grasslands of South Africa. They are Gyronotus dracomontanus Deschodt Davis, new species, Gyronotus ovalis Deschodt Davis, new species and Gyronotus kearneyorum Deschodt Davis, new species. The South African coastal forest species, Gyronotus marginatus Péringuey, 1888, status revised, is removed from synonymy with Gyronotus pumilus (Boheman, 1857) and revalidated at species level. An updated key to all South African and eSwatini species is provided.

New dung beetle genus and species from a cave in the Espinhaço mountain range, Brazil (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

ABSTRACTBased on a single specimen collected in a cave in the municipality of Diamantina, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, we describe Isacanthon mariaelinae Pacheco and Vaz-de-Mello, a new genus and species of dung beetles. The new genus is closely related to Paracanthon, Paracryptocanthon, Cryptocanthon and Tesserodoniella, but it can be distinguished by clypeus with two teeth, which appear to originate beneath clypeal margin, and metatibiae with one distinct tooth at basal two-fifth.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D810C791-D5CD-43BF-9277-BE90E66BFE15

Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): key to species groups and description of 14 new species from the L. pygmaeus species group.

Lepanus Balthasar, 1966 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is one of the most diverse genera of dung beetles in Australasia and includes large numbers of undescribed species. This publication is the first part in an ongoing revision of the Australian members of this genus and outlines ten informal species groups. Fourteen new species that are similar to Lepanus pygmaeus (Macleay, 1888) are described here: Lepanus mckenziei new species from the Pilbara region of Western Australia; Lepanus sauroni new species from coastal regions of the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia; Lepanus gubara new species, Lepanus pecki new species, Lepanus podocarp new species and Lepanus pungalina new species from the Top End, Northern Territory; Lepanus lentil new species from the Top End, Northern Territory and central Queensland; Lepanus crenidens new species, Lepanus lingziae new species, and Lepanus menendezae new species from northern Queensland; Lepanus andersonorum new species, and Lepanus tozerensis new species from Cape York Peninsula, far north Queensland; Lepanus feehani new species from the Australian Wet Tropics; and Lepanus guthrieae new species from the east to west coast of northern Australia. Lepanus pygmaeus is redescribed and a lectotype designated for it. A lectotype is designated for Panelus arthuri Blackburn, 1900. The synonymy of L. pygmaeus with P. arthuri is confirmed. A key to species groups within Lepanus is provided, as well as a key to species in the L. pygmaeus species group.

Two new synonyms in the dung beetle genus Parachorius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from the Oriental Region.

The dung beetle genus Parachorius Harold, 1873 (= Cassolus Sharp, 1875) belongs to the monotypic tribe Parachoriini Tarasov, 2017 and includes 19 species from the Oriental and southeastern Palaearctic Regions (Tarasov 2017). Two recent studies (Ochi et al. 2017a, b) described two new species of this genus from Laos and Sumatra. The investigation of detailed descriptions and illustrations from those studies and their assessment in the light of the recent revision of Parachorius (Tarasov 2017) revealed that those new species are synonyms of earlier described ones: P. javanus (Boucomont, 1914) = P. singgalangensis Ochi, Kon Hartini, 2017, new synonymy, and P. fukiensis (Balthasar, 1960) = C. laosensis Ochi, Kon Higurashi, 2017, new synonymy. Unfortunately, this oversight happened because the authors of those new species did not check the type material of already described taxa.