Chisos Mountains Oak vs Common dung beetle

Quercus tardifolia compared with Aphodius pedellus

Key Differences

• Chisos Mountains Oak is Data Deficient while Common dung beetle is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chisos Mountains Oak	Common dung beetle
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Fagales (Beeches & Oaks)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Fagaceae (Beech Family)	Scarabaeidae
Genus	Quercus (Oaks)	Aphodius
Species	Quercus tardifolia	Aphodius pedellus

Conservation Status

Chisos Mountains Oak

DD — Data Deficient

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chisos Mountains Oak	Common dung beetle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chisos Mountains Oak

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Common dung beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

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

Chisos Mountains Oak

The Chisos Mountains Oak (Quercus tardifolia) is a rare deciduous oak endemic to the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park in Trans-Pecos Texas, USA. Belonging to the red oak group (section Lobatae) within the family Fagaceae, it is one of the most geographically restricted oaks in North America, known from only a very small area within the high-elevation woodland zones of the park. The species grows at elevations roughly between 1,800 and 2,400 metres, where it occurs in mixed woodland communities alongside other oaks, junipers, and pines. Like other red oaks, its acorns require two years to mature, and the leaves typically display the deep sinuses and bristle-tipped lobes characteristic of the section. The IUCN currently classifies Quercus tardifolia as Data Deficient, reflecting uncertainty about its precise population size, the extent of hybridisation with related oak species, and the degree to which apparent stands represent genetically distinct individuals versus hybrids. Climate change poses a significant long-term threat to this mountain-island endemic, as rising temperatures could compress or eliminate the cooler, moister habitat on which it depends. Conservation efforts focus on accurate taxonomic assessment, population monitoring within Big Bend National Park, and seed banking to preserve genetic diversity.

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.