Ateuchini

Perty, 1830

Genus Guides

2

Ateuchini is a tribe of dung beetles within the Scarabaeinae. The tribe has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, with at least 30 and approximately 370 described currently recognized. Recent systematic work has reorganized the tribe into subtribes, including Ateuchina and Scatimina, while transferring several former Ateuchini genera to other tribes or marking them as incerta sedis. Members of this tribe exhibit diverse ecological habits, with some genera associated with and others with rotting wood or fungal substrates.

Ateuchus histeroides - inat 22079239 by {{{name}}}. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.Ateuchus lecontei by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ateuchini: /ˌætjuːˈkaɪnaɪ/

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Identification

Members of Ateuchini can be distinguished from related dung beetle tribes by combinations of morphological characters including protibial structure, clypeal , and pronotal and pygidial margins. The tribe has been subdivided into subtribes Ateuchina (containing Ateuchus, Deltorhinum, Aphengium, and Sinapisoma) and Scatimina (containing 17 including Trichillum and related ). Several genera formerly placed in Ateuchini have been transferred to Canthonini, Coprini, or newly established tribes Paraphytini and Coptorhinini based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence.

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Distribution

Primarily distributed in the Neotropical region, with additional representation in the Afrotropical and Oriental regions. within the subtribe Scatimina occur in Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Rica, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Nicaragua. Former African and Afro-Oriental members have been removed to separate tribes (Paraphytini, Coptorhinini).

Behavior

Nesting varies among . Trichillum and related genera in subtribe Scatimina exhibit nesting patterns that have been interpreted as either representing retention of primitive nidification processes or secondary reduction/loss of nesting capability. The ecological habits of member genera range from -feeding to mycetophagy and breeding in rotting logs.

Similar Taxa

  • CanthoniniFormer Ateuchini Scatonomus, Anomiopus, and Hypocanthidium were transferred to Canthonini based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence; subtribal distinctions help separate these groups
  • Coprini Canthidium, Parachorius, and Holocanthon were transferred from Ateuchini to Coprini; these share some morphological convergences that previously caused misclassification
  • ParaphytiniNewly established tribe for African Paraphytus, formerly classified in Ateuchini; distinguished by breeding in rotting logs rather than association
  • CoptorhininiNewly established tribe for African Coptorhina, Sarophorus, Delopleurus, and Frankenbergerius, formerly in Ateuchini; primarily Afro-Oriental distribution and distinct ecological habits including mycetophagy

More Details

Taxonomic instability

The tribe Ateuchini has experienced significant taxonomic reorganization in recent years. The subtribe Scatimina was established in 2008 to accommodate 17 , 12 of which were newly described. Multiple genera have been transferred out of Ateuchini to other tribes, and 13 genera remain as incerta sedis within Ateuchini, not fitting into either recognized subtribe.

Ecological diversity

Despite being classified as dung beetles, Ateuchini encompasses diverse feeding and breeding habits. While some are associated with , others are mycetophagous or breed in rotting wood. This ecological diversity has contributed to taxonomic confusion and the need for tribal reclassification.

Sources and further reading