Common dung beetle vs keeled disc snail

Aphodius pedellus compared with Discus perspectivus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	keeled disc snail
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Stylommatophora (Stylommatophora)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Discidae
Genus	Aphodius	Discus
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Discus perspectivus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common dung beetle and keeled disc snail share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

keeled disc snail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	keeled disc snail
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.

keeled disc snail

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Distributed across Italy and Ukraine.

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.