Catharsius molossus

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Catharsius molossus
Catharsius molossus (Linne, 1758) female (15359705894).png
Catharsius molossus from Vietnam
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Catharsius
Species:
C. molossus
Binomial name
Catharsius molossus
Synonyms
List
  • Catharsius borneensisPaulian, 1936
  • Catharsius dubiusPaulian, 1936
  • Catharsius kangeanusPaulian, 1936
  • Catharsius timorensisLansberge, 1879
  • Copris urusFabricius, 1801
  • Scarabaeus abbreviatusHerbst, 1789
  • Scarabaeus berbiceusHerbst, 1789
  • Scarabaeus janusOlivier, 1789
  • Scarabaeus molossus Linnaeus, 1758

Catharsius molossus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.

Contents

Description

Catharsius molossus can reach a length of about 25–35 millimetres (0.98–1.38 in) in the females, about 45 millimetres (1.8 in) in males. This species is completely black, the body is short and convex, quite hairy on the ventral side and usually with a short conical horn in the centre of the head of the males. Pronotum is densely granulated and elytra are finely striated. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for detoxification, swelling and constipation.[ citation needed ]

Distribution

Catharsius molossus is one of the most widespread and abundant coprophagous species in tropical Asian regions. It occurs in the Palearctic realm (Afghanistan, Nepal, Sikkim, China, Taiwan), and in the Oriental realm (India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Timor, and Flores).

Related Research Articles

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The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change in recent years. Several groups formerly treated as subfamilies have been elevated to family rank, and some reduced to lower ranks. The subfamilies listed in this article are in accordance with those in Catalog of Life (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dung beetle</span> Informal group of insects

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Histeridae</span> Family of beetles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarabaeoidea</span> Superfamily of beetles

Scarabaeoidea is a superfamily of beetles, the only subgroup of the infraorder Scarabaeiformia. Around 35,000 species are placed in this superfamily and some 200 new species are described each year. Its constituent families are also undergoing revision presently, and the family list below is only preliminary. This superfamily includes some of the largest beetles extant today, including rhinoceros beetles, (Dynastinae), the Hercules beetle and Goliath beetles.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinaloan mastiff bat</span> Species of bat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agyrtidae</span> Family of beetles

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<i>Mesembrina meridiana</i> Species of fly

Mesembrina meridiana, sometimes known as the noon fly or noonday fly, is a species of fly in the family Muscidae.

<i>Catharsius</i> Genus of beetles

Catharsius is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Coprini in the scarab family.

<i>Heliocopris</i> Genus of beetles

Heliocopris is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Forty-seven of the fifty-two known species are found in Africa, but a few are found in southern and southeast Asia.

<i>Meloe violaceus</i> Species of beetle

Meloe violaceus, the violet oil beetle, is a species of oil beetle belonging to the family Meloidae subfamily Meloinae.

<i>Catharsius gorilla</i> Species of beetle

Catharsius gorilla is a species of African dung beetles of the family Scarabaeidae. This species is widespread in the tropical African regions.

<i>Diabroctis mimas</i> Species of beetle

Diabroctis mimas is a species beetles of the scarab beetle family.

<i>Phanaeus</i> (beetle) Genus of beetles

Phanaeus, the rainbow scarabs, is a genus of true dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, ranging from the United States to northern Argentina, with the highest species richness in Mexico. Depending on species, they can inhabit a wide range of habitats, from tropical to temperate climates and deserts to rainforests. In those living in relatively arid places adults are primarily active during the wet season and those living in relatively cold places are primarily active during the summer. They are excellent diggers and good fliers.

<i>Teuchestes fossor</i> Species of beetle

Teuchestes fossor is a species of dung beetle native to the Palaearctic, but is also widespread in North America following accidental introduction and naturalisation during European settlement. Both adults and larvae are coprophagous, differentiating resource use by respectively feeding on the liquid and fibrous fractions of herbivore dung. It can be readily collected from the dung of livestock, and other large mammals This species is known to support a number of key ecosystem services in cattle pastures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coprini</span> Tribe of beetles

Coprini is a tribe of scarab beetles, in the dung beetle subfamily (Scarabaeinae). Scholtz et al. describe them as tunnellers that are shiny black, of moderate to large size and with a strongly convex shape. They also, however state that the grouping based on these characteristics has little phylogenetic validity, and the placement of several genera in this and related tribes is likely to change.

Catharsius capucinus, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

<i>Catharsius granulatus</i> Species of beetle

Catharsius granulatus, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sikkim, China, Taiwan, Andaman Islands, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sunda Islands.

<i>Catharsius pithecius</i> Species of beetle

Catharsius pithecius, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and China.

<i>Gymnopleurus sericeifrons</i> Species of beetle

Gymnopleurus sericeifrons, is a species of dung beetle found in Afro-tropical countries such as Mozambique, Kenya, India and Sri Lanka.

References