ROLLERS
Species that roll dung away, called ‘rollers’ or telecoprids, are broad, stout, domed and muscular. Often a male and female pair work together, their hind legs grappling the dung ball while their short front legs push the ground. The dung ball is buried, or hidden in herbage, after a 1–20m journey. In some species the females stay to guard the brood ball.
TUNNELLERS
These species, known as paracoprids, are broad and stout, but slightly flattened. Males are often armed with large horns on the head or thorax, for head-to-head pushing and shoving matches underground; the victor wins or keeps the female, the dung or both. Tunnels may be 15cm to 1.5m long, filled with sausages of dung, or carefully stocked cells.
DWELLERS
Mostly smaller, these species, called endocoprids, live…
