Versicorpus
| Versicorpus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Versicorpus Deschodt, Davis & Scholtz, 2011 |
| Species: | V. erongoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Versicorpus erongoensis Deschodt, Davis & Scholtz, 2011 | |
Versicorpus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Versicorpus is endemic to Namibia and is only found at the Mount Erongo. This is a monotypic genus with only one species, Versicorpus erongoensis.[1]
Versicorpus probably live in close association with rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis Pallas). These Hyraxes have communal toilets or dung middens. These middens are probably a stable and dependable food source for Versicorpus in a resource scarce environment. Versicorpus erongoensis is a flightless dung beetle that is probably closely related to Dicranocara Deschodt & Scholtz and Namakwanus Scholtz & Howden.
References
- ↑ Christian M. Deschodt, Adrian L.V. Davis & Clarke H. Scholtz (2011). "New dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) taxa from arid south-western Africa". Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (3): 277–294. doi:10.1163/187631211X568173.