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Genus Sarophorus Erichson (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) - results of revision and key to species© A.V. Frolov |
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Sarophorus is a small genus of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) distributed mainly in Southern Africa. It was erected by Erichson (1847) for Pedaria tuberculata Castelnau on the grounds of the elytra being sinuate laterally near the base as opposed to being straight in Pedaria. Subsequently, three more species originally described in Pedaria were also placed in this genus: P. cicatricosa Péringuey, P. setulosa Brancsik, and P. costata Fåhraeus in Boheman. The genus has recently been revised and currently comprises 9 species: S. bidentatus Frolov et Scholtz S. carinatus Frolov et Scholtz S. costatus (Fåhraeus in Boheman) S. punctatus Frolov et Scholtz |
Distribution of Sarophorus species |
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From other scarabaeine genera Sarophorus also differs in having metacoxae separated from epipleura by the abdominal sternite 1, and from most genera by propleurae with small concavities for retracted apices of mesotibiae (except for S. bidentatus). Males can be separated from females by one or several of the following characters: anterior tibial spur more strongly curved inwards and downwards, middle tibiae with apices more densely setose, clypeus coarsely punctate (anterior part of the clypeus is more sparsely punctate to smooth, usually shiny in females). Although the genus is broadly classed as a tunneling dung beetle, the little information available on its biology rather indicates a feeding preference for very old dung or carrion remains which may imply detritus as a preferred food rather than dung. References: Erichson, W. F. 1847. Naturgeschichte der Insecten Deutschlands. I. Coleoptera., 3/5: 641-800. Frolov, A.V., C.H. Scholtz. 2003. Revision of the Afrotropical dung beetle genus Sarophorus Erichson (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). African Entomology, 11(2): 183-198. |
Key to Sarophorus species |
1. | ||
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 Elytra without tubercles, punctate |
 Elytra with oval tubercles |
 Elytra carinate |
↓ 4 |
↓ 2 |
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Pronotum with smooth, elevated areas |
Pronotum densely punctate to rugose, without smooth areas |
↓ 3 |
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Anterior angles of clypeus angulate, not protruding |
Anterior angles of clypeus strongly protruding |
 Base of propleura with concavities |
Base of propleura without concavities |
 Pronotum more or less regularly punctate |
 Pronotum coarsely and irregularly punctate, with sub-symmetrically located, more sparsely punctate areas |
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↓ 5 |
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 Anterior angles of clypeus rounded. Elytra matt in most specimens. |
 Anterior angles of clypeus angulate. Elytra somewhat shiny. |
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 Middle tibiae with denser apical setae in males |
 Middle tibiae with relatively sparse apical
setae in both sexes. |
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↓ 6 |
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Elytral intervals more densely punctate on disc (punctures separated by 0.5 puncture diameter) |
Elytral intervals more sparsely
punctate on disc (punctures separated by a puncture diameter) |
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 Apices of parameres with angulate lateral margins in dorsal view |
 Apices of parameres with rounded lateral margins in dorsal view |
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↓ 7 |
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 Body narrower |
 Body wider |
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Apices of parameres narrower, strongly sclerotized |
Apices of parameres wider, weakly sclerotized | |