Elephant Dung Beetle vs Round-Necked Burying Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Elephant Dung Beetle | Round-Necked Burying Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliocopris dilloni | Nicrophorus orbicollis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Silphidae |
| Size | 35-55 mm | 18-22 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Forests |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | East Africa, Southern Africa | Eastern North America |
| 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.
Did You Know?
A single elephant dropping can attract over 4,000 dung beetles within 15 minutes of being deposited.
Round-Necked Burying Beetle
A medium-sized burying beetle with orange-red markings and a distinctly rounded thorax. It is one of the most common Nicrophorus species in North American forests.
Did You Know?
Males attract females to a carcass by standing on top and releasing pheromones from their raised abdomens.