Gazella scarab ('' Onthophagus gazella'') males; note variation in horn size ''Onthophagus'' is a genus of dung beetles in the

Onthophagini Onthophagini are a tribe of scarab beetles. Commonly placed in the true dung beetle subfamily (Scarabaeinae), it belongs to a group of subfamilies separated as subfamily Coprinae in some treatments. Onthophagini often display sexual dimorphism, ...

tribe of the wider scarab beetle family, Scarabaeidae. It is the most species-rich and widespread genus in the subfamily Scarabaeinae (the 'true' dung beetles), with a global distribution.

Etymology

The Genus name derives from the Greek ''onthos'', meaning dung, and ', meaning eater.

Taxonomy

This genus includes more than 20 subgenera and over 2,100 species.Catalogue of life
/ref> Some of the subgenera (including ''

Proagoderus ''Proagoderus'' is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the subfamily Scarabaeinae. It was considered a subgenus of Onthophagus Gazella scarab ('' Onthophagus gazella'') males; note variation in horn size ''Onthophagus'' is a genus o ...

'', ''

Diastellopalpus ''Diastellopalpus'' is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. It was considered a subgenus of Onthophagus Gazella scarab ('' Onthophagus gazella'') males; note variation in horn size ''Onthophagus'' is a g ...

'', ''

Digitonthophagus ''Digitonthophagus'' is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. It was considered a subgenus of Onthophagus Gazella scarab ('' Onthophagus gazella'') males; note variation in horn size ''Onthophagus'' is a g ...

'', '' Strandius'', and ''

Euonthophagus ''Euonthophagus'' is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. It was considered a subgenus of Onthophagus Gazella scarab ('' Onthophagus gazella'') males; note variation in horn size ''Onthophagus'' is a gen ...

'') are now widely recognized as genera.

Selected species

* '' Onthophagus (Amphionthophagus) melitaeus'' (

Fabricius Fabricius ( la, smith, german: Schmied, Schmidt) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *people from the Ancient Roman gens Fabricia: **Gaius Fabricius Luscinus, the first of the Fabricii to move to Rome * Johann Goldsmid (1587� ...

Steven Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

, 1809) * '' Onthophagus (Palaeonthophagus) fracticornis'' ( Preyssler, 1790) * '' Onthophagus (Palaeonthophagus) gazella'' (

, 1787) * '' Onthophagus (Palaeonthophagus) gibbulus'' ( Pallas, 1781) * '' Onthophagus (Palaeonthophagus) grossepunctatus'' (

Reitter Reitter is a German occupational surname, which means a "mounted soldier" or "knight", from the Middle High German ''ritære'' (" horseman"). Notable people with the surname include: * Edmund Reitter (1845–1920), a Moravia-born Austrian-German e ...

Gallery

File:Proagoderus (=Onthophagus) nigricornis Fairmaire, 1887 male (3232050794).jpg, '' Onthophagus nigricornis'' File:Onthophagus (Gonocyphus) obliquus (Olivier, 1789) male (4346956618).jpg, '' Onthophagus obliquus'' File:Onthophagus (Gonocyphus) shimba Cambefort, 1980 Syn. Onthophagus obliquus shimba Cambefort, 1980 female (4346209433).jpg, ''

Onthophagus shimba Gazella scarab ('' Onthophagus gazella'') males; note variation in horn size ''Onthophagus'' is a genus of dung beetles in the Onthophagini tribe of the wider scarab beetle family, Scarabaeidae. It is the most species-rich and widespread genus i ...

References

7. Kharel BP, Schoolmeester P, Sarkar SK (2020) A first faunistic account on the Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) of the Nadia district, West Bengal, with a preliminary checklist from India. Check List 16(2): 361-381. https://doi.org/10.15560/16.2.361

External links