Epirinus

{{short description|Genus of beetles}}

{{Taxobox

| image = Epirinus validus 000916-2.jpg

| image_caption = Epirinus validus

| regnum = Animalia

| phylum = Arthropoda

| classis = Insecta

| ordo = Coleoptera

| subordo = Polyphaga

| infraordo = Scarabeiformia

| superfamilia = Scarabaeoidea

| familia = Scarabaeidae

| subfamilia = Scarabaeinae

| tribus = Deltochilini

| genus = Epirinus

| genus_authority = Dejean, 1833

| synonyms = Epirhinus Agassiz, 1846

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision =

}}

Epirinus is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini (subfamily Scarabaeinae) of the scarab family.{{cite book|last=Scholtz|first=Clarke H.|last2=Davis|first2=Adrian L. V.|last3=Kryger|first3=Ute|title=Evolutionary biology and conservation of dung beetles|date=2009|publisher=Pensoft Pub.|location=Sofia-Moscow|isbn=978-954-642-517-1}} It comprises 29 species from southern Africa; a few species are widespread in the region, but most have limited ranges.{{cite journal|last1=Medina|first1=Claudia|last2=Scholtz|first2=Clarke|title=Systematics of the southern African genus Epirinus Reiche (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae: Canthonini): descriptions of new species and phylogeny|journal=Insect Systematics & Evolution|date=1 April 2005|volume=36|issue=2|pages=145–160|doi=10.1163/187631205788838500}} Length ranges from 3.0 mm to 13.5 mm.{{cite book|last1=Davis|first1=Adrian L.V.|last2=Frolov|first2=Andrey V.|last3=Scholtz|first3=Clarke H.|title=The African dung beetle genera|date=2008|publisher=Protea Book House|location=Pretoria|isbn=9781869192440|pages=105–108|edition=1st}}

Ecology

Most species in this genus feed on herbivore dung, although some are known to eat carrion. Some of the larger species roll balls of dung, whereas smaller species have been found in leaf litter. The genus includes both flying and flightless species.

Taxonomy

Species include:{{cite web|title=Coleoptera-Scarabaeinae|url=http://biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Coleoptera-Scarabaeinae.xlsx|website=biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org|publisher=SANBI|accessdate=1 December 2016}}

  • Epirinus aeneus (Wiedemann, 1823)
  • Epirinus aquilus Medina & Scholtz, 2005
  • Epirinus asper Peringuey, 1901
  • Epirinus bentoi Ferreira, 1964
  • Epirinus comosus Peringuey, 1901
  • Epirinus convexus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus davisi Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus drakomontanus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus flagellatus (Fabricius, 1775)
  • Epirinus granulatus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus gratus Peringuey, 1901
  • Epirinus hilaris Peringuey, 1901
  • Epirinus hluhluwensis Medina & Scholtz, 2005
  • Epirinus hopei Castelnau, 1840
  • Epirinus minimus Medina & Scholtz, 2005
  • Epirinus montanus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus mucrodentatus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus ngomae Medina & Scholtz, 2005
  • Epirinus obtusus Boheman, 1857
  • Epirinus pseudorugosus Medina & Scholtz, 2005
  • Epirinus punctatus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus pygidialis Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus relictus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus rugosus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus scrobiculatus Harold, 1880
  • Epirinus sebastiani Medina & Scholtz, 2005
  • Epirinus silvestris Cambefort, 1978
  • Epirinus striatus Scholtz & Howden, 1987
  • Epirinus sulcipennis Boheman, 1857
  • Epirinus validus Peringuey, 1901

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5383218}}

Category:Deltochilini

{{Scarabaeinae-stub}}