Oniticellini are a
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to confli ...
of
scarab beetles
The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 30,000 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 sub ...
, in the true
dung beetle
Dung beetles are beetles that feed on feces. Some species of dung beetles can bury dung 250 times their own mass in one night.
Many dung beetles, known as ''rollers'', roll dung into round balls, which are used as a food source or breeding cha ...
subfamily (
Scarabaeinae
The scarab beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species collectively called true dung beetles. Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung. However, some may feed on decomposing matter including carrion, decaying fruits a ...
).
Nearly all species of this tribe feed on and nest in dung, mainly that of large herbivores. Most are tunnelers; dung is buried at the ends of tunnels dug below a dropping, and used as food by both adults and larvae; others, known as dwellers (including ''
Oniticellus'' and ''
Tragiscus'') make brood cavities within or just beneath the dung.
Taxonomy
The Oniticellini have been divided into three subtribes: Drepanocerina, Helictopleurina and Oniticellina, but this arrangement is still under review.
The following genera have been placed in the Oniticellini:
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Afrodrepanus''
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Anoplodrepanus''
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Attavicinus''
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Clypeodrepanus''
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Cyptochirus''
*''
Drepanellus''
*''
Drepanocerus''
*''
Drepanoplatynus''
*''
Eodrepanus''
*''
Epidrepanus''
*''
Euoniticellus''
*''
Eurysternus''
*''
Helictopleurus''
*''
Heterosyphus''
*''
Ixodina''
*''
Latodrepanus''
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Liatongus''
*''
Nitiocellus''
*''
Oniticellus''
*''
Paraixodina''
*''
Paroniticellus''
*''
Scaptocnemis''
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Sinodrepanus''
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Sulcodrepanus''
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Tibiodrepanus''
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Tiniocellus''
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Tragiscus''
*''
Yvescambefortius''
References
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Scarabaeinae
Beetle tribes
{{Scarabaeinae-stub