''Ateuchus colossus'', is a
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
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 ...
belonging to the family
Scarabaeidae
The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change. Several groups formerly tre ...
. It is found from three locations of the region of
Los Chimalapas,
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
.
Etymology
The scientific name ''colossus'', meaning ''huge'', where it is the largest known ''Ateuchus'' species in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
up to date.
Description
Show slight sexual dimorphism. Male is about 10.7mm in length. Body elongate-oval and convex. A glossy black beetle with metallic sheen. Female is similar, but has a less convex pygidium and coarsely punctate head when comparing male.
References
Scarabaeinae
Beetles described in 2018
Endemic insects of Mexico
{{Scarabaeinae-stub