Gazella scarab ('' Onthophagus gazella'') males; note variation in horn size ''Onthophagus'' 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

Onthophagini Onthophagini are a tribe of scarab beetles. Commonly placed in the true dung beetle subfamily (Scarabaeinae), it belongs to a group of subfamilies separated as subfamily Coprinae in some treatments. Onthophagini often display sexual dimorphism, ...

tribe of the wider scarab beetle 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 the most species-rich and widespread genus in 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 ...

(the 'true' dung beetles), with a global distribution.

Etymology

The Genus name derives from the Greek ''onthos'', meaning dung, and ', meaning eater.

Taxonomy

This genus includes around 30 subgenera and over 2,200 species. Some of the former subgenera of ''Onthophagus '' (including '' Proagoderus'', '' Diastellopalpus'', ''

Digitonthophagus ''Digitonthophagus'' is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. It was considered a subgenus of Onthophagus by some authorities. A review of the taxon was published in 2017. Species These 16 species belong to ...

'', and '' Euonthophagus'') are now widely recognized as genera.

Subgenera

These subgenera are in accordance with the Catalog of Life and the World Scarabaeidae Database (2023). * Afrostrandius Moretto, 2009 - tropical Africa * Altonthophagus Kabakov, 1990 - Palearctic * Amphionthophagus Martín-Piera & Zunino, 1983 - Palearctic * Bicornonthophagus Tagliaferri & Moretto, 2012 - tropical Africa * Colobonthophagus Balthasar, 1935 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Cryptonthophagus Dierkens, 2022 - tropical Africa * Drepanonthophagus Dierkens, 2022 - tropical Africa * Endrodius Balthasar, 1959 - Oriental * Eremonthophagus Zunino, 1979 - Palearctic * Exonthophagus Kabakov, 2006 - Palearctic *

Furconthophagus Furconthophagus is a subgenus of scarab beetles in the genus ''Onthophagus'' of the family Scarabaeidae The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scar ...

Zunino, 1979 - Palaearctic, Oriental, tropical Africa *

Gibbonthophagus Gibbonthophagus is a subgenus of scarab beetles in the genus ''Onthophagus'' of the family Scarabaeidae The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scar ...

Balthasar, 1935 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Gonocyphus Lansberge, 1885 - tropical Africa * Hikidaeus Ochi & Kon, 2016 - Oriental * Indachorius Balthasar, 1941 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Indonthophagus Kabakov, 2006 - Palaearctic, Oriental, tropical Africa * Macronthophagus Ochi, 2003 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Matashia Matsumura, 1938 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Micronthophagus Balthasar, 1963 - Oriental, Palaearctic, tropical Africa *

Onthophagiellus Onthophagiellus is a subgenus of scarab beetles in the genus ''Onthophagus'' of the family Scarabaeidae. There are more than 20 described species in Onthophagiellus. They are found primarily in Asia and Africa. Species These 25 species belong to ...

Balthasar, 1935 - Oriental *

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 ...

Latreille, 1802 - worldwide * Palaeonthophagus Zunino, 1979 - Palearctic * Paraphanaeomorphus Balthasar, 1959 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Parentius Zunino, 1979 - Palearctic * Phanaeomorphus Balthasar, 1935 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Pseudophanaeomorphus Ochi, 2007 - Oriental * Serrophorus Balthasar, 1935 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Sinonthophagus Kabakov, 2006 - Palearctic * Strandius Balthasar, 1935 - Palaearctic, Oriental, tropical Africa * Sunenaga Ochi, 2003 - Palaearctic, Oriental * Trichonthophagus Zunino, 1979 - Palaearctic, Oriental, tropical Africa

Gallery

File:Proagoderus (=Onthophagus) nigricornis Fairmaire, 1887 male (3232050794).jpg, ''

Onthophagus nigricornis file:Onthophagus gazella male 2 sjh.jpg, 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 mo ...

'' File:Onthophagus (Gonocyphus) obliquus (Olivier, 1789) male (4346956618).jpg, '' Onthophagus obliquus'' File:Onthophagus (Gonocyphus) shimba Cambefort, 1980 Syn. Onthophagus obliquus shimba Cambefort, 1980 female (4346209433).jpg, '' Onthophagus shimba''

References

External links