Epirinus

Epirinus
Epirinus validus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Scarabeiformia
Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Scarabaeinae
Tribe: Canthonini
Genus: Epirinus

Epirinus is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Canthonini (subfamily Scarabaeinae) of the scarab family.[1] It comprises 29 species from southern Africa; a few species are widespread in the region, but most have limited ranges.[2]

Ecology

Most species in this genus feed on herbivore dung, although some are known to eat carrion. Some of the larger species roll balls of dung, whereas smaller species have been found in leaf litter. The genus includes both flying and flightless species.[2]

Taxonomy

Species include:[3]

References

  1. Scholtz, Clarke H.; Davis, Adrian L. V.; Kryger, Ute (2009). Evolutionary biology and conservation of dung beetles. Sofia-Moscow: Pensoft Pub. ISBN 978-954-642-517-1.
  2. 1 2 Medina, Claudia; Scholtz, Clarke (1 April 2005). "Systematics of the southern African genus Epirinus Reiche (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae: Canthonini): descriptions of new species and phylogeny". Insect Systematics & Evolution. 36 (2): 145–160. doi:10.1163/187631205788838500.
  3. "Coleoptera-Scarabaeinae". biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org. SANBI. Retrieved 1 December 2016.


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