''Onthophagus gazella'' (common names: gazella scarab, brown dung beetle) is a species of

scarab beetle 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 ...

. It belongs to the

subgenus In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between t ...

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 ...

'', which may also be treated as a genus. There has been some confusion regarding the application of the name. Its native distribution is Afro-Asian. It has been introduced to many other parts of the world in order to help remove cattle dung from pastures, with some introductions leading to naturalized populations.

References

Scarabaeinae Beetles described in 1787 Beetles of Asia Beetles of Africa Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius {{Scarabaeinae-stub