Scarabaeus ambiguus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Scarabaeus ambiguus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Scarabaeiformia |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Scarabaeus |
| Species: | S. ambiguus |
| Binomial name | |
| Scarabaeus ambiguus Boheman, 1857 | |
Scarabaeus ambiguus is a species of Old World dung beetles. This beetle rolls up a ball of dung before laying eggs on it and burying it.
Scarabaeus ambiguus is a large black species of scarab beetle with an adult length of about 24 mm (0.9 in). The forelegs are adapted for squeezing and manipulating loose dung to form balls.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Scarabaeus ambiguus is native to southern Africa, its range including Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. Its range centres on the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, and adjacent parts of the Eastern Cape where it is found on highveld grassland, bushveld and open woodland, but avoids thick forests and dense stands of trees. It is generally found between elevations of between 1,200 and 1,550 m (3,900 and 5,100 ft).[1]