Common dung beetle vs European Mink

Aphodius pedellus compared with Mustela lutreola

Key Differences

• Common dung beetle is Least Concern while European Mink is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	European Mink
Kingdom same	Animalia (动物界)	Animalia (动物界)
Phylum	Arthropoda (节肢动物门)	Chordata (脊索动物门)
Class	Insecta (昆蟲綱)	Mammalia (哺乳動物)
Order	Coleoptera (鞘翅目)	Carnivora (食肉目)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Aphodius	Mustela
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Mustela lutreola

Evolutionary Relationship

Common dung beetle and European Mink share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (动物界)

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

European Mink

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	European Mink
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.

European Mink

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

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.