Variable Dung Beetle vs Spanish Copperhead Ground Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Variable Dung Beetle | Spanish Copperhead Ground Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus fracticornis | Carabus macrocephalus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 22-32 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Mountains |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Spain and Portugal (Iberian Peninsula) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Variable Dung Beetle
A small, highly variable tunneling dung beetle found across Europe. Coloration ranges from pale brown to nearly black with various mottled patterns. Males have a small bent horn, giving the species its name.
Did You Know?
The extreme color variation in this species once led taxonomists to describe multiple color forms as separate species.
Spanish Copperhead Ground Beetle
A large Iberian ground beetle with a distinctly oversized head and copper to bronze-colored elytra with deep sculptured ridges. It is endemic to the mountains of Spain and Portugal.
Did You Know?
Its exceptionally large head houses powerful mandible muscles, thought to be an adaptation for crushing the shells of mountain snails.