in Sri Lanka - Ministry of Environment

Balthasar (1963), ScarabNet, the ScarabNet Global Taxon Database Version 1.5, specimencollections at the National Museum of Sri Lanka, Oxford University Museum of Natural History,British Museum of Natural History, and species recorded during the field surveys. Potentiallynew species and dung/dung dwelling beetles of other families/sub families (Aphodiinae,Hystaridae, Cyanidae, Elataridae, Chrysomalidae, Trogidae, Bostrichidae and Scirtidae) areexcluded from this list.DistributionScarabNet Global Taxon Database lists 81 species of Scarabaeinae beetles belonging to eighttribes from Sri Lanka. The most recent study identified 103 species of the same tribes. Out ofthe 103 species listed for Sri Lanka, 21 species (21%) are endemic while 63 species (61%)are found in the Indo-Sri Lankan region. The remaining species show a wider distribution.However, these numbers are likely to change once the ongoing survey and taxonomic work iscompleted including the description of several potentially new species. Some of the endemicsrecorded recently were previously only known from the type specimen (i.e., Sysiphus tarantula,which was collected from the same location as the type).Genus Onthophagus comprises of thehighest number of species found in Sri Lanka. These include species that show an island widedistribution (i.e. Onthophagus unifaciatus, O. Cervus,O. spinifex) as well as species showingrestricted distribution (i.e Onthophagus martialis, O. igneus), where some species showing aclear restriction to certain bio-geographical zones (i.e Onthophagus fuscopunctatus - restrictedto coastal areas in the dry and arid zones). Catharcius molossus, Sisyphus longipes and Coprissignatus are the most commonly found species while Catharcius molossus, is the largesttunneler beetle recorded in Sri Lanka. This species often visit homes attracted by the light.There are distinctive differences between dry and wet zone communities which can beattributed to the environmental conditions and the distribution of large mammals. Dry zonehas the highest species richness and abundance of dung beetles. The wet zone supports adiverse dung beetle assemblage; however, biomass per unit area is much low compared tothe dry zone. The number of species recorded from the montane zone clearly was less thanthat of the other zones. Paragymnopleurus melanarius is the largest roller species found inthe wet zone while Scarabaeus gangeticus, the largest crepuscular roller beetle found in SriLanka, display a clear habitat preference to the dry and arid zones (sandy soil) where cattleand other large mammals are abundant. Genus Ochicanthon is represented by four species inthe Sri Lanka and two of them (O. cingalense and O. triste) were only recorded in the montanezone above 1200 m asl. Panelus setosus was found only in the low and mid country wet zoneand Caccobius. ultor, C. lilliputanus, O. ludio in the low-country intermediate zone. The generaParaliatongus, Euoniticellus, Drepanocerus and Panelus were represented by single speciesonly. More intense sampling is required with multiple bait types and sampling methods toestablish the final geographic range of each species.Some of the species in historical records were not found during the present survey. For exampleonly one species in the genus Scarabaeus, S. gangeticus, was found in the present study. Theother two species, Scarabaeus erichsoni and Scarabaeus sanctus, were not recorded. Further,Onthophagus regalis and O. questus recorded by Arrow (1931) were also not recorded duringthis study. Several previously recorded species from the genera Gymnopleurus, Caccobius,439