Catharsius molossus | |
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Catharsius molossus from Vietnam | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Scarabaeidae |
Genus: | Catharsius |
Species: | C. molossus |
Binomial name | |
Catharsius molossus (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
Synonyms | |
List
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Catharsius molossus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Description
Catharsius molossus can reach a length of about 25–35 millimetres (0.98–1.38 in) in the females, about 45 millimetres (1.8 in) in males. This species is completely black, the body is short and convex, quite hairy on the ventral side and usually with a short conical horn in the centre of the head of the males. Pronotum is densely granulated and elytra are finely striated. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for detoxification, swelling and constipation.
Distribution
Catharsius molossus is one of the most widespread and abundant coprophagous species in tropical Asian regions. It occurs in the Palearctic realm (Afghanistan, Nepal, Sikkim, China, Taiwan), and in the Oriental realm (India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Timor, and Flores).
References
- Deyrup, ST; Stagnitti, NC; Perpetua, MJ; Wong-Deyrup, SW (1 March 2021). "Drug Discovery Insights from Medicinal Beetles in Traditional Chinese Medicine". Biomolecules & Therapeutics. 29 (2): 105–126. doi:10.4062/biomolther.2020.229. PMC 7921859. PMID 33632986.
External links
Taxon identifiers | |
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Catharsius molossus | |
Scarabaeus molossus |
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