''Onthophagus taurus'', the taurus scarab, is a species of

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 ...

in the genus ''

Onthophagus 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 ...

'' and the family

Scarabaeidae 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 ...

Description

''Onthophagus taurus'' can reach a length of . These small beetles are oval shaped, the color is usually black or reddish brown. Sometimes the pronotum has a weak metallic sheen. Males have on the heads a pair of long protrusions or horns (hence the species name) that they use to fight with each other to gain mating rights with females. There are five different locations where the horns can develop: at the back, middle or front of the head, and on the front or side of the thorax. Some males do not have horns, and therefore do not come into the fight, but have larger gonads. A similar dimorphism in males have been found in some other species ('' Ageopsis nigicollis'', '' Podischnus agenor''). This adaption reduces direct competition with horned males. Horns of ''Onthophagus taurus'' lack obvious homology to other insect traits. Hence, they are known as an evolutionary novelty, even by the term strictest definition. The evolution and diversification of horns of this species are rooted in an intricate patchwork of extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms that involves parental effects, developmental plasticity, multiple internal pathways monitored by the ''doublesex (dsx)'' gene expression'','' the ''hedgehod'' gene expression as well as the insulin/insulin-growth factor (IGF) pathway, among numerous other elements. ''Onthophagus taurus'' can pull a weight of 1141 times its and is considered the strongest animal on earth on a body weight to lift ratio.

Distribution

This species is present in Australia, Europe, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Iraq, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and USA (Texas).

Economic value

Dung beetles have been utilized in the breakdown of

manure Manure is organic matter that is used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Most manure consists of animal feces; other sources include compost and green manure. Manures contribute to the Soil fertility, fertility of soil by adding organic ma ...

on sheep and dairy farms worldwide. In September 2013 ''O. taurus'' was released for the first time in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, in the Gore District of

Southland Southland may refer to: Places Canada * Dunbar–Southlands, Vancouver, British Columbia New Zealand * Southland Region, a region of New Zealand * Southland County, a former New Zealand county * Southland District, part of the wider Southland Re ...

.Media Release
/ref> These beetles pull the manure into the ground to create their brood balls, which they use as egg chambers. This increases grazing space for cattle, reduces habitats for flies and bacteria, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2024678 Scarabaeinae Beetles described in 1759 Beetles of New Zealand Taxa named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber