Hydnus Prionine vs Elephant Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hydnus Prionine Elephant Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Dorysthenes hydrophilus Heliocopris dilloni
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cerambycidae Scarabaeidae
Size 35-55 mm 35-55 mm
Habitat Forests Grasslands
Diet Root Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions India (Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats), Sri Lanka East Africa, Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Hydnus Prionine

A large dark brown prionine beetle found in the tropical forests of India and Sri Lanka. Its larvae develop in the roots of large trees in moist forest habitats. Adults are powerful nocturnal fliers attracted to light.

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Did You Know?

Despite its large size, this species is rarely collected because of its preference for deep forest habitats far from roads.

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.