''Saphobius'' is a genus of

dung beetle Dung beetles are beetles that feed on feces. All species of dung beetle belong to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea, most of them to the subfamilies Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae of the family Scarabaeidae (scarab beetles). As most species of Scara ...

s in the tribe

Deltochilini Deltochilini (or Canthonini) is a tribe of scarab beetles, in the dung beetle subfamily (Scarabaeinae). Members of this group vary widely in size (2–33 mm long) and shape, but were thought to be derived from an ancient ball-rolling lineag ...

of the subfamily

Scarabaeinae The scarab beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species collectively called true dung beetles (there are also dung beetles in other subfamilies and families). Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung. However, some ma ...

. They are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturnal, which is unusual for dung beetles. Dung beetles are typically associated with mammal faeces, but prior to human habitation, New Zealand lacked land mammals other than three species of bats. This lack of mammal faeces has been suggested as the reason for the low diversity of dung beetles in New Zealand when compared to the rest of the world. Olfaction studies and pitfall trap baiting trials have shown that chicken carcasses and squid are highly attractive to ''Saphobius'', which may reflect the evolution of the genus on an island abundant with bird species, in particular sea birds.

Taxonomy

The New Zealand Organisms Register lists these species. * ''

Saphobius brouni ''Saphobius brouni'' is one of several species of Scarabaeidae that are endemic to New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the So ...

'' * '' Saphobius curvipes'' * '' Saphobius edwardsi'' * ''

Saphobius fulvipes ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

'' * '' Saphobius fuscus'' * ''

Saphobius inflatipes ''Saphobius inflatipes'' is one of several species of dung beetle that are endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to the tribe Deltochilini of the family Scarabaeidae The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 speci ...

'' * ''

Saphobius laticollis ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

'' * ''

Saphobius lepidus ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

'' * ''

Saphobius lesnei ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

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Saphobius nitidulus ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

'' * ''

Saphobius setosus ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

'' * ''

Saphobius squamulosus ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

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Saphobius tibialis ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

'' * ''

Saphobius wakefieldi ''Saphobius'' is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with ''Saphobius edwardsi'' being most widespread. They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturn ...

References

Endemic beetles of New Zealand Scarabaeidae genera Deltochilini {{Scarabaeinae-stub