Digitonthophagus gazella - inat 46227549

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

scarab beetle 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 belongs to the

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

'' Digitonthophagus'', which was promoted from subgenus to genus level in 1959. There has been some confusion regarding the application of the names with many people using the outdated name ''Onthophagus gazella.'' Dung beetle experts use the term ''Digitonthophagus gazella''. 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. ''Digitonthophagus gazella'' was introduced into Australia as part of the Australian Dung Beetle project in 1968.

References

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