Saphirinus Dung Beetle vs Common Water Penny
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Saphirinus Dung Beetle | Common Water Penny |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coprophanaeus saphirinus | Psephenus herricki |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Psephenidae |
| Size | 18-30 mm | 4-6 mm (adults); 6-10 mm (larvae) |
| Habitat | Forests | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Argentina) | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Saphirinus Dung Beetle
A stunning metallic sapphire-blue tunneling dung beetle with brilliant iridescence. Males have a prominent horn. It is one of the most beautifully colored dung beetles in the Neotropics and an important decomposer.
Did You Know?
The sapphire-blue metallic sheen is so intense that museum specimens retain their color for over a century.
Common Water Penny
A small aquatic beetle whose larvae are flattened and round like a copper penny, clinging to rocks in fast streams. Adults are terrestrial and short-lived.
Did You Know?
Larvae are so flat they can cling to rocks in torrential currents that would wash away most other insects.