Common dung beetle vs

Aphodius pedellus compared with Hemiselmis anomala

Key Differences

• Common dung beetle is Least Concern while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Cryptophyta
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Cryptophyceae (Cryptophyceae)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Pyrenomonadales (Pyrenomonadales)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Chroomonadaceae
Genus	Aphodius	Hemiselmis
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Hemiselmis anomala

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle
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.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

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.

Hemiselmis anomala is a unicellular cryptomonad alga found in marine and estuarine environments, characterised by its asymmetric, kidney-shaped cell and two unequal flagella for swimming. It contains phycobilin pigments allowing photosynthesis and plays a role in marine and coastal primary production. Cryptomonads like this species are significant contributors to phytoplankton communities in diverse aquatic habitats.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden