Common dung beetle vs vespertilion de natterer, murin de natterer

Aphodius pedellus compared with Myotis nattereri

Key Differences

• Common dung beetle is Least Concern while vespertilion de natterer, murin de natterer is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	vespertilion de natterer, murin de natterer
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Arthropoda (arthropodes)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (insecte)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Aphodius	Myotis
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Myotis nattereri

Evolutionary Relationship

Common dung beetle and vespertilion de natterer, murin de natterer share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (animal)

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

vespertilion de natterer, murin de natterer

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	vespertilion de natterer, murin de natterer
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.

vespertilion de natterer, murin de natterer

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and temperate grasslands and steppes within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). 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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden