Onthophilus alternatus
(Say, 1825)
clown beetle
Onthophilus alternatus is a of clown beetle in the Histeridae, described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is one of approximately 4,000 extant species in a family with a fossil record extending back at least 99 million years. The Onthophilus has a close Cretaceous relative, Cretonthophilus tuberculatus, preserved in Burmese amber, providing evidence of long-term morphological stability in this lineage.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Onthophilus alternatus: /ɒnˈθɒfɪləs ælˈtɜːrnətəs/
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Distribution
Documented from the southeastern United States: Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
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Fossil relatives
The Onthophilus has a well-documented Cretaceous fossil relative, Cretonthophilus tuberculatus, described from 99 million-year-old Burmese amber. This fossil shows detailed external sculpturing of wing covers and , with mouthparts indicating predatory habits similar to modern histerids. The fossil genus name reflects its Cretaceous age and relationship to Onthophilus.