Common dung beetle vs Golden Thorius

Aphodius pedellus compared with Thorius aureus

Key Differences

• Common dung beetle is Least Concern while Golden Thorius is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	Golden Thorius
Kingdom same	Animalia (حيوانات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum	Arthropoda (مفصليات الأرجل)	Chordata (حبليات)
Class	Insecta (حشرات)	Amphibia (برمائيات)
Order	Coleoptera (خنفساء)	Caudata (سلمندر)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Plethodontidae
Genus	Aphodius	Thorius
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Thorius aureus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common dung beetle and Golden Thorius share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (حيوانات)

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Golden Thorius

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	Golden Thorius
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common dung beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States.

Golden Thorius

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common dung beetle

<em>Aphodius pedellus</em>, a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable conservation outlook across its known range. The species has been documented in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States, with its distribution spanning virtually all terrestrial and freshwater biome types. As a member of the Aphodiini tribe, <em>Aphodius pedellus</em> typically inhabits pastures, meadows, and woodland edges where mammalian dung is available, as dung beetles in this genus rely on feces as both a breeding medium and a food resource. These beetles play a critical role in nutrient cycling and soil aeration, breaking down organic waste and accelerating the return of nutrients to the soil. Their burrowing activity beneath dung pats enhances soil structure and improves water infiltration. <em>Aphodius pedellus</em> is part of a guild of coprophagous insects that collectively support healthy agricultural and natural ecosystems across temperate Europe and North America. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.