Elephant Dung Beetle vs Gambian Conehead Mantis

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Elephant Dung Beetle Gambian Conehead Mantis
Scientific Name Heliocopris dilloni Empusa guttula
Order Coleoptera Mantodea
Family Scarabaeidae Empusidae
Size 35-55 mm 45-60 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Dung Feeders Omnivores
Regions East Africa, Southern Africa Gambia, Senegal, Mali
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Elephant Dung Beetle

A very large black dung beetle that specializes in elephant dung. Males have a prominent curved horn on the thorax.

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Did You Know?

A single elephant dropping can attract over 4,000 dung beetles within 15 minutes of being deposited.

Gambian Conehead Mantis

A West African conehead mantis with spotted markings on its wings and body. It is found in savanna habitats where it perches on tall grasses.

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Did You Know?

Its spotted body pattern helps it blend with seed heads of savanna grasses.