Coprophanaeus pluto

Harold, 1863

Coprophanaeus pluto is a dung beetle in the Scarabaeidae, notable as the only member of its occurring in the United States. The species is distributed from Guatemala and Mexico northward into extreme southern Texas, with body lengths ranging from 1.8 to 2.8 cm. Unlike many that specialize on , this black has been documented feeding on carrion.

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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Coprophanaeus pluto: //ˌkɒ.prəˈfæ.niː.əs ˈpluː.toʊ//

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Identification

The only Coprophanaeus in the United States; black coloration and carrion-feeding habit distinguish it from other dung beetles in its range. Body length 1.8–2.8 cm.

Images

Distribution

Guatemala; Mexico (Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Veracruz); United States (southernmost Texas). Records from southernmost Arizona are considered doubtful.

Diet

Carrion

Similar Taxa

Other Coprophanaeus speciesAll other are restricted to Central and South America; C. pluto is the only member of the reaching the United States.