Sagittarius Dung Beetle vs Stag-Horned Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sagittarius Dung Beetle Stag-Horned Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Onthophagus sagittarius Onthophagus rangifer
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Scarabaeidae
Size 8-14 mm 7-12 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Dung Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Southeast Asia, introduced to Australia Southeast Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sagittarius Dung Beetle

A medium-sized dark brown tunneler with a distinctive arrow-shaped projection on the male head. It was introduced to Australia from Asia to assist with cattle dung burial. A very efficient tunneler in tropical conditions.

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Did You Know?

This species was deliberately released in northern Australia in 1982 and has since spread across tropical Queensland.

Stag-Horned Dung Beetle

A small, dark brown tunneling dung beetle with spectacularly branched antler-like horns in major males. The branching horns resemble reindeer antlers. It inhabits forest habitats where it tunnels beneath monkey and civet dung.

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Did You Know?

The branching horns of this beetle are some of the most complex found in any insect species.