Calodema 147 Cormorant.cwk (WP)

Calodema, 147: 1-3 (2011)
T.J. Hawkeswood- Phalacrocorax
Notes on some Staphylinidae and Histeridae (Coleoptera) from the dead
carcass of a Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris,
Phalacrocoracidae)
by Dr Trevor J. Hawkeswood*
*PO Box 862, Richmond, New South Wales, 2753, Australia (www.calodema.com)
Hawkeswood, T.J. (2011). Notes on some Staphylinidae and Histeridae (Coleoptera) from the dead carcass of a Little
Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, Phalacrocoracidae). Calodema, 147: 1-3.
Abstract: Five species of Coleoptera, four from Staphylinidae and one from Histeridae are recorded as feeding on or
inhabiting the rotting flesh of a dead Little Black Cormorant [Phalacrocorax sulcirostris (Brandt, 1837),
Phalacrocoracidae] on sand dunes near Hastings Point, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Some literature on
the biology and behaviour of the Devils Coach Horse Beetle, Creophilus erythrocephalus (Fabricius, 1775)
(Staphylinidae) is briefly reviewed.
Key words: Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, Phalacrocoracidae, carcass feeding, Staphylinidae, Histeridae. Coleoptera.
Introduction
The Staphylinidae of Australia number approx. 600 species (Hawkeswood, 1987) or 1600 species,
including undescribed ones (Lawrence & Britton, 1994) but very few biological details are known
or recorded for most of the Australian species. This group of beetles are commonly found in
rotting carcasses as well as in dead fungal fruiting bodies and rotting vegetation on the ground (e.g.
Froggatt, 1907; Tillyard, 1926; McKeown, 1942, 1951; Hawkeswood, 1987). Other staphylinids
occur in the nests of ants (McKeown, 1942, 1951). The Histeridae of Australia number approx.
185 species (Lawrence & Britton, 1994) and similarly have been little studied overall in Australia.
This group is also commonly found within or under the rotting carcasses of animals and some
species are purported to feed on fly maggots in these situations (McKeown, 1942). Other
Australian histerids occur in the nests of ants (McKeown, 1942; Tillyard, 1926) or in rotting
vegetative material on plants (Hawkeswood, 2006). This paper lists and provides brief ecological
notes on five species of Coleoptera collected during 1987 from a dead Little Black Cormorant on
a beach in northern New South Wales.
The Little Black Cormorant is a common and widespread species in Australia where it usually
occurs in flocks in a number of aquatic habitats; it measures up to 65 cm body length and is
mostly black in colour (e.g. Lindsey, 1986; Marchant & Higgins, 1990; Simpson & Day, 1999).
Observations
On 1 September 1987, I noticed a dead Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, Phalacrocoracidae)
resting and crumpled up on white-grey sand amongst flowering Acacia sophorae (Mimosaceae) and Leptospermum sp.
(Myrtaceae) bushes behind the Casuarina groves at Cabarita Beach, near Hastings Point, north-eastern New South
Wales, Australia (28° 15’S, 153° 35’E). The weather conditions were sunny but a cold wind was blowing, air
temperatures were approx. 18-20 degrees Celsius. The bird was lying in a north-south direction, had been dead for at
least 2-3 days and its flesh had reached an advanced state of decay. Most of the feathers were intact and it appeared
that the bird had died as a result of being strangled and entangled in fishing line that had sinkers attached to it. The
bird had presumably drowned and then had been washed up on the beach. The fishing line and sinkers were wrapped
around the legs and wings of the bird. I carefully examined the specimen by tilting it on the ground at about 1100 hrs
Eastern Australian Summer Time (EAST) and recorded the following 5 species of beetle associated with the carcass:
1. Creophilus erythrocephalus (Fabricius, 1775)(Staphylinidae). Four live adults were collected from underneath the
carcass as well as another specimen which was found dead amongst sand nearby. When exposed to the light the beetles
attempted to burrow in the sand or to rapidly run for cover under the dead bird or amongst roots and debris.
2. Aleochara haemorrhoidalis (L., 1758)(Staphylinidae). This species was also very active. One specimen was
collected but another escaped by scurrying down an abandoned small crab hole situated adjacent to the carcass.
3. Cafius sp. (Staphylinidae). This species was very common both in the sand under the carcass. The environment
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Calodema, 147: 1-3 (2011)
T.J. Hawkeswood- Phalacrocorax
under the carcass was moist and was saturated with the rotting juices of the dead bird. These beetles were also common
amongst the rotting flesh on the bones and like the other beetles hurried to conceal themselves when exposed to
direct sunlight.
4. Xantholinus sp. (Staphylinidae). One specimen was collected from the ground after it had fallen from the carcass
when disturbed.
5. Saprinus sp. (probably S. splendens (Paykull, 1811) or S. cyaneus (Fabricius, 1775) (Histeridae). Five green and
purple histerids were collected from the carcass; they were feeding on the rotten flesh and dropped once disturbed
onto the sand below. Like Creophilus, they attempted to bury themselves in the sand to elude capture.
Discussion
I am unaware of any published beetle records from dead carcasses of Little Black Cormorant.
Generally very little has been published on the biology of Australian Staphylinidae and Histeridae.
Staphylinidae are usually scavengers but sometimes carnivorous, living beneath dead animals or
rotting vegetation and some are reported to prey on maggots (e.g. McKeown, 1942, 1951).
Creophilus erythrocephalus was redescribed with distributional notes (Steel, 1949). This species is
the largest of the family in Australia (Froggatt, 1907) and is very well known and there are many
general references to it on the Internet and in other more standard publications (e.g. Froggatt,
1907; Bellas et al., 1974; Meyer-Rochow, 1972, 2004; Archer, 2003; Read & Wilson, 2004).
Hawkeswood (1987, 2007) & Lawrence & Britton (1994) briefly reviewed the biology of the
species. Adults of C. erythrocephalus have been recorded under carcasses of animals and other
carrion and when disturbed they scurry away to shelter with the flexible abdomen curved upwards
over the body in an apparent threat display (McKeown, 1942, 1951). It is also purported that C.
erythrocephalus feeds on fly maggots (McKeown, 1942, 1951; Harris, 2002). Recently research
on this species has involved forensic studies involving pig carcasses (Archer, 2003; Voss et al.,
2008). Hawkeswood & Turner (2008a) more recently recorded the species feeding inside a
portion of a dead Blue-tongue Lizard, Tiliqua scincoides (Scincidae) while Hawkeswood & Turner
(2008b) recorded a specimen of C. erythrocephalus associated with the carcass of a Swamp
Wallaby, Wallabia bicolor (Lesson, 1828)(Macropodidae), both in the Sydney district, New South
Wales.
Virtually nothing is known about Cafius species. McKeown (1942, 1951) noted that the mediumsized
shining black Cafius sabulosus (Fauvel, 1877) inhabited sea beaches, congregating under
masses of sea weed which had been thrown up in storms and which apparently fed upon small
stranded sea-life and decaying matter. The Cafius species at Hastings Point was indeed common
but beetles were not found amongst seaweed, although seaweed was situated nearby to the dead
cormorant.
As regards Xantholinus, the Australian species are also poorly known both taxonomically and
biologically. Nothing appears to have been written on the biology of any Australian species.
The Histeridae are small to medium-sized beetles either predaceous or carrion feeders (e.g.
Tillyard, 1926). On carrion, adult and larval histerid beetles will feed primarily on dipterous
maggots (e.g. McKeown, 1942; Crowson, 1981). Saprinus is a cosmopolitan genus of carrionfeeders,
which are distinctive in being highly convex, rounded and with metallic coloration
(Tillyard, 1926). Although C. splendens has recently been recorded from pig carcasses in China
(Wang et al., 2008), nothing has been recorded on the species in Australia.
Examination of carcasses of native birds, reptiles and mammals appears to be a rewarding pursuit
despite the drawback of the terrible smells emitted by dead animals. As so little data have been
published in this country, any observations should be of importance.
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Date of publication: 15 February 2011
Copyright: Dr Trevor J. Hawkeswood
Editor-in-Chief: Dr T.J. Hawkeswood (www.calodema.com)
(Published as hard paper copy edition as well as electronic pdf)
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