Trace Fossils of Dung Beetles

  • Jorge Fernando Genise
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Topics in Geobiology book series (TGBI, volume 37)

Abstract

The ichnogenera Coprinisphaera, Quirogaichnus, Eatonichnus, Chubutolithes, Pallichnus, Scaphichnium and other meniscate burrows attributed to dung beetles are reviewed. Coprinisphaera is one of the most emblematic insect trace fossil from paleosols: it is one of the first described, one of the most abundant and recorded, and it is also subject of novel studies detailed along other chapters. The history of research on this ichnogenus is reviewed along with the detailed morphology of its ichnospecies, C. murguiai, C. lazai, C. kitu, C. akatanka, C.tonnii, C.kheprii, C. kraglievichi, C. laetoliensis, C. ndolayana, and C. cotiae, and possible producers. It has been interpreted since its recognition in paleosols as dung beetle brood balls. Quirogaichnus coniunctus is represented by brood balls clustered in a cavity and interpreted as a compound nest of a dung beetle. Eatonichnus utahensis, E. claronensis and a new ichnospecies are ellipsoid chambers surrounded by a helical wall composed of pellets and interpreted as dung beetle pupation chambers. Chubutolithes gaimanensis is interpreted herein as a dung beetle pupation chamber by comparison with extant ones and Eatonichnus. It also shows externally rows of imbricated pellets. Pallichnus dakotensis is a simple trace represented by a spheroidal structure shown a rounded scar at one pole and interpreted as the pupation chamber of Geotrupinae. Scaphichniun hamatum and other meniscate burrows have been interpreted as Geotrupinae cylindrical brood masses. Finally, the chapter reconstructs a possible evolution of coprophagy and necrophagy in Scarabaeidae as reflected by trace fossils. Color plates of type material, morphological details and representative cases are provided.

Keywords

Trace fossils of dung beetles Coprinisphaera Quirogaichnus Eatonichnus Chubutolithes Pallichnus Scaphichnium Evolution of coprophagy and necrophagy in Scarabaeidae 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Alonso RN, González CE, Pelayes HA (1982) Hallazgo de roedores y nidos de escarabeidos en el Terciario Superior de la Sierra de Vaqueros, Salta, Republica Argentina. Rev Inst Cienc Geol 5:1–3Google Scholar
  2. Andreis R (1972) Paleosuelos de la Formación Musters (Eoceno Medio), Laguna del Mate, Prov. de Chubut, Rep. Argentina. Rev Asoc Argent Mineral Petrogr Sedimentol 3:91–97Google Scholar
  3. Andreis R (1981) Identificación e importancia geologica de los paleosuelos. Livro-texto 2. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto AlegreGoogle Scholar
  4. Arillo A, Ortuño VM (2008) Did dinosaurs have any relation with dung beetles? (The origin of coprophagy). J Nat Hist 42:1405–1408CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Barattini LP, Sáenz AC (1953) Nuevos aportes para el conocimiento de desarrollo del Phanaeus milon (Blanch.) (Col. Scarab.). Rev Soc Ent Arg 16:24–29Google Scholar
  6. Basilewsky P (1951) Loges fossiles de Coprophages. Bull Ann Soc Entomol Belg 87:26–27Google Scholar
  7. Bellosi ES, Laza JH, Sánchez MV, Genise JF (2010) Ichnofacial analysis of the Sarmiento Formation (Middle Eocene-Lower Miocene) at Gran Barranca, Central Patagonia. In: Madden R, Carlini A, Vucetich M, Kay R (eds) The paleontology of Gran Barranca: evolution and environmental change through the Middle Cenozoic of Patagonia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 306–316Google Scholar
  8. Bertling M, Braddy S, Bromley RG, Demathieu G, Genise JF, Mikulás R, Nielsen JK, Nielsen KSS, Rindsberg A, Schlirf M, Uchman A (2006) Names for trace fossils: a uniform approach. Lethaia 39:265–286CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Bordas A (1937) El afloramiento de Casamayor en el valle del Chubut. Anales Soc Argent Estud Geogr 4:215–220Google Scholar
  10. Bown TM, Kraus MJ (1983) Ichnofossils of the alluvial Willwood Formation (Lower Eocene), Bighorn Basin, Northwestern Wyoming, U.S.A. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 43:95–128CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Bown TM, Ratcliffe BC (1988) The origin of Chubutolithes Ihering, ichnofossils from the Eocene and Oligocene of Chubut Province, Argentina. J Paleontol 62:163–167CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Bown TM, Hasiotis ST, Genise JF, Maldonado F, Brouwers EM (1997) Trace fossils of Hymenoptera and other insects and paleoenvironments of the Claron Formation (Paleocene and Eocene), Southwestern Utah. U.S. Geol Surv Bull 2153:42–58Google Scholar
  13. Bromley RG, Buatois LA, Genise JF, Labandeira CC, Mángano MG, Melchor RN, Schlirf M, Uchman A (2007) Comments on the paper “Reconnaissance of Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation ichnofossils, Rocky Mountain Region, USA: Paleoenvironmental, stratigraphic, and paleoclimatic significance of terrestrial and freshwater ichnocoenoses” by Stephen T. Hasiotis. Sediment Geol 200:141–150CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Brown RW (1941a) The comb of a wasp nest from the Upper Cretaceous of Utah. Am J Sci 239:54–56CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Bruet E (1950) Le loess de la Republique de l’Equateur et ses nids fossiles d’insectes. Rev Fr Entomol 17:280–283Google Scholar
  16. Brussaard L (1987) Kleptocopry of Aphodius coenosus (Coleoptera, Aphodiidae) in nests of Typhaeus typhoeus (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae) and its effect on soil morphology. Biol Fertil Soils 3:117–119Google Scholar
  17. Brussaard L, Runia LT (1984) Recent and ancient traces of scarab beetle activity in sandy soils of The Netherlands. Geoderma 34:229–250CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Camacho HH (1966) Invertebrados Fósiles. Eudeba Manuales, Buenos AiresGoogle Scholar
  19. Cantil LF, Sánchez MV, Bellosi ES, González MG, Sarzetti LC, Genise JF (2013) Coprinisphaera akatanka isp. nov.: the first fossil brood ball attributable to necrophagous dung beetles associated with an Early Pleistocene environmental stress in the Pampean region (Argentina). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 386:541–554CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Cantil LF, Sánchez MV, Dinghi PA, Genise JF (2014a) Food relocation behavior, nests, and brood balls of Canthon quinquemaculatus Laporte de Castelnau (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). Coleopt Bull 68:199–208CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Cantil LF, Sánchez MV, Genise JF (2014b) The nest and brood ball of Canthon (Canthon) virens aff. paraguayanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). Coleopt Bull 68:384–386CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Cantil LF, Sánchez MV, Sarzetti L, Molina A, Genise JF (2015) Nests and brood balls of Coprophanaeus (Coprophanaeus) cyanescens (Olsoufieff, 1924) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). Coleopt Bull 69:153–158CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Chin K (2007) The paleobiological implications of herbivorous dinosaur coprolites from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana: why eat wood? Palaios 22:554–566CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Chin K, Gill BD (1996) Dinosaurs, dung beetles, and conifers: participants in a Cretaceous food web. Palaios 11:280–285CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Clapperton C, Vera R (1986) The Quaternary glacial sequence in Ecuador, a reinterpretation of the work of W. Sauer. J Quat Sci 1:45–56CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Coltorti M, Ficarelli G, Jahren H, Moreno M, Rook L, Torre D (1998) The last occurrence of Pleistocene megafauna in the Ecuadorian Andes. J S Am Earth Sci 11:581–586CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Dieni I, Genise JF (2004) The first European record of Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955. In: Abstract book of the first international congress on ichnology, Trelew, p 31Google Scholar
  28. Duringer P, Brunet M, Cambefort Y, Beauvilain A, Mackaye HT, Vignaud P, Schuster M (2000a) Des boules de bousiers fossiles et leurs terriers dans les sites a Australopitheques du Pliocene tchadien. Bull Soc Geol Fr 171:259–269CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Duringer P, Brunet M, Cambefort Y, Likius A, Mackaye HT, Schuster M, Vignaud P (2000b) First discovery of fossil dung beetle brood balls and nests in the Chadian Pliocene Australopithecine levels. Lethaia 33:277–284CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Duringer P, Schuster M, Genise JF, Likius A, Mackaye H, Vignaud P, Brunet M (2006) The first fossil fungus gardens of Isoptera: oldest evidence of symbiotic termite fungiculture (Miocene, Chad basin). Naturwissenschaften 93:610–615CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Duringer P, Schuster M, Genise JF, Mackaye HT, Vignaud P, Brunet M (2007) New termite trace fossils: Galleries, nests and fungus combs from the Chad basin of Africa (Upper Miocene-Lower Pliocene). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 251:323–353CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Eccheli M, Gennaro M, Mittempergher S (2004) Geologia della Riserva Naturale di Corna Piana, Brentonico (Trento). Studi Trent Sci Nat Acta Geol 81:29–39Google Scholar
  33. Estrada A (1941) Contribución geológica para el conocimiento de la Cangagua de la región interandina y del Cuaternario en general en el Ecuador. Anales Univ Central Quito 66:405–488Google Scholar
  34. Fabre JH (1897) Souvenirs Entomologiques. Cinquième série. Librairie Delagrave, ParisGoogle Scholar
  35. Fontana MA (1927) Memoria de la excursión científica a Nueva Palmira. Rev Soc Amigos Arqueol 3:119–179Google Scholar
  36. Ford I (1988a) Conglomerados con nidos de insectos fósiles: Formación Palmitas (provisorio)—Terciario Inferior (tentativo). In: Actas del 6to panel de geología del litoral y 1er reunión de geología del Uruguay, Salto, pp 47–49Google Scholar
  37. Ford I (1988b) Paleoclima y paleogeografía del Cretácico Superior–Terciario Inferior en el Uruguay: un nuevo modelo interpretativo. In: Actas del 6to panel de geología del litoral y 1ra reunión de geología del Uruguay, Salto, Uruguay, pp 50–53Google Scholar
  38. Fossa Mancini E (1941) Noticias sobre hallazgos de insectos fósiles en la América del Sur. Notas Mus La Plata Paleontol 6:119–179Google Scholar
  39. Francis JC (1975) Esquema bioestratigráfico regional de la República Oriental del Uruguay. In: Actas del I congreso argentino de paleontología y bioestratirgrafía, Tucumán, pp 539–568Google Scholar
  40. Freeman BE, Donovan SK (1991) A reassessment of the ichnofossil Chubutolithes gaimanensis Bown and Ratcliffe. J Paleontol 65:702–704CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Frenguelli J (1927) El entrerriense del Golfo Nuevo en el Chubut. Bol Acad Nac Cienc Córdoba 29:191–270Google Scholar
  42. Frenguelli J (1938a) Bolas de escarabeidos y nidos de véspidos fósiles. Physis 12:348–352Google Scholar
  43. Frenguelli J (1938b) Nidi fossili di Scarabeidi e Vespidi. Boll Soc Geol Ital 57:77–96Google Scholar
  44. Frenguelli J (1939a) Sobre nidos fósiles del Neuquén y Río Negro. Rev Soc Entomol Argent 10:270Google Scholar
  45. Frenguelli J (1939b) Nidos fósiles de insectos en el Terciario del Neuquén y Río Negro. Notas Mus La Plata Paleontol 4:379–402Google Scholar
  46. Frenguelli J (1940) Viaje a la zona central andina de la Patagonia septentrional. Rev Mus La Plata 1940:53–76Google Scholar
  47. Frenguelli J (1941) Viaje a los territorios patagónicos del Neuquén y del Chubut. Rev Mus La Plata 1941:80–91Google Scholar
  48. Frenguelli J (1946) Un nido de esfégido del Cretácico del Uruguay. Notas Mus La Plata Paleontol 11:259–267Google Scholar
  49. Fujiyama I (1968) A Miocene fossil of tropical dung beetle from Noto, Japan (Tertiary Insect Fauna of Japan, 2). Bull Natl Sci Mus Tokyo 11:201–210Google Scholar
  50. Genise JF (2004a) Fungus traces in wood: a rare bioerosional item. In: Abstract book of the first international congress on ichnology, Trelew, Argentina, p 37Google Scholar
  51. Genise JF, Bown TM (1990) The constructor of the ichnofossil Chubutolithes. J Paleontol 64:482–483CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Genise JF, Bown TM (1991) A reassesment of the ichnofossil Chubutolithes gaimanensis Bown and Ratcliffe: reply. J Paleontol 65:705–706CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. Genise JF, Bown TM (1994a) New Miocene scarabeid and hymenopterous nests and Early Miocene (Santacrucian) paleoenvironments, Patagonian Argentina. Ichnos 3:107–117CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. Genise JF, Cladera G (2004) Chubutolithes gaimanensis and other wasp trace fossils: breaking through the taphonomic barrier. J Kansas Entomol Soc 77:626–638CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. Genise JF, Laza JH (1998) Monesichnus ameghinoi Roselli: a complex insect trace fossil produced by two distinct trace makers. Ichnos 5:213–223CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. Genise JF, Mángano MG, Buatois LA, Laza JH, Verde M (2000) Insect trace fossil associations in paleosols: the Coprinisphaera ichnofacies. Palaios 15:49–64CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. Genise JF, Cladera G, Tancoff S (2001) La presencia de Eatonichnus claronensis en el Paleoceno del Chubut (Argentina). In: Resúmenes de la IV reunión argentina de icnología y II reunión de icnología del Mercosur, Tucumán, p 45Google Scholar
  58. Genise JF, Bellosi ES, González MG (2004) An approach to the description and interpretation of ichnofabrics in palaeosols. In: McIlroy D (ed) The application of ichnology to palaeoenvironmental and stratigraphic analysis. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 228:355–382Google Scholar
  59. Genise JF, Laza JH, Rindsberg A (2006) The ichnogenus Coprinisphaera Sauer 1955: proposed conservation. Bull Zool Nomencl 63:243–246Google Scholar
  60. Genise JF, Melchor RN, Bellosi ES, González MG, Krause JM (2007) New insect pupation chambers (Pupichnia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. Cretac Res 28:545–559CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  61. Genise JF, Melchor RN, Sánchez MV, González MG (2013e) Attaichnus kuenzelii revisited: a Miocene record of fungus-growing ants from Argentina. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 386:349–363CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  62. Gill B (1991) Dung beetles in tropical American forests. In: Hanski I, Cambefort Y (eds) Dung beetle ecology. Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 211–229Google Scholar
  63. Gilliland WN, La Rocque A (1952) A new Xenohelix? from the Paleocene of Utah. J Paleontol 26:501–504Google Scholar
  64. Halffter G, Edmonds WD (1982) The nesting behaviour of dung beetles. An ecological and evolutive approach. Pub Inst Ecol México 10:1–176Google Scholar
  65. Halffter G, Matthews E (1966) The natural history of dung-beetles of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. Folia Entomol Mex 12–14:1–312Google Scholar
  66. Hasiotis ST, Aslan A, Bown TM (1993a) Origin, architecture, and paleoecology of the Early Eocene continental ichnofossil Scaphichnium hamatum, integration of ichnology and paleopedology. Ichnos 3:1–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  67. Hopley PJ, Herries AIR, Baker SE, Kuhn BF, Menter CG (2013) Brief communication: Beyond the South African cave paradigm—Australopithecus africanus from Plio-Pleistocene paleosol deposits at Taung. Am J Phys Anthropol 151:316–324CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  68. Horn GH (1876) Notes on some coleopterous remains from the bone cave at Port Kennedy, Penna. Trans Am Entomol Soc 5:241–245Google Scholar
  69. ICZN (2008) Opinion 2211 (Case 3360). The ichnogenus Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955 (Ichnotaxa, Coprinisphaeridae): generic name given precedence over Fontanai Roselli 1939. Bull Zool Nomencl 65:318–319Google Scholar
  70. Judulien F (1899) Quelques notes sur plusieurs coprophages de Buenos Aires. Rev Mus La Plata 9:371–383Google Scholar
  71. Von Ihering H (1922) Untitled. Palaeontol Z 4:113Google Scholar
  72. Kitching JW (1980) On some fossil arthropoda from the Limeworks, Makapansgat, Potgietersrus. Palaeontol Afr 23:63–68Google Scholar
  73. Krause JM, Genise JF (2004) Chubutolithes Ihering en Bahía Solano, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina. Consideraciones sedimentológicas e icnológicas. Resúmenes de la X reunión argentina de sedimentología, San Luis, pp 84–85Google Scholar
  74. Krell FT (2006) Fossil record and evolution of Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera, Polyphaga). Coleopt Soc Monogr 5:120–143Google Scholar
  75. Krell FT (2007) Catalogue of fossil Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera, Polyphaga) of the Mesozoic and Tertiary. Denver Mus Nat Sci Tech Rep 2007–8:1–79Google Scholar
  76. Krell FT (2008) Comments on the proposed conservation of the ichnogenus Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955 (Ichnotaxa, Insecta, Coleoptera, Coprinisphaeridae). Bull Zool Nomencl 65:50–54Google Scholar
  77. Krell FT, Schawaller W (2011) Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera). In: Harrison T (ed) Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context. Springer, Berlin, pp 535–548CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  78. Laza JH (1986a) Icnofósiles de paleosuelos del Cenozoico mamalífero de Argentina. I Paleógeno. Bol Asoc Paleontol Argent 15:19Google Scholar
  79. Laza JH (1986b) Icnofósiles de paleosuelos del Cenozoico mamalífero de Argentina. II Neógeno. Bol Asoc Paleontol Argent 15:13Google Scholar
  80. Laza JH (2001) Nidos de Scarabaeinae. Significación paleoclimática y cronológica. In: Mazzanti DL, Quintana CA (eds) Cueva Tixi: cazadores y recolectores de las Sierras de Tandilia Oriental. I Geología, Paleontología y Zooarqueología. Publ Esp Lab Arqueol Univ Nac Mar Plata 1:119–122Google Scholar
  81. Laza JH (2006a) Dung-beetle fossil brood balls: the ichnogenera Coprinisphaera Sauer and Quirogaichnus (Coprinisphaeridae). Ichnos 13:217–235CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  82. Laza JH (2006b) Termiteros del Plioceno y Pleistoceno de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Rep Argent Signif paleoambiental paleozoogeogr Ameghiniana 43:641–648Google Scholar
  83. Laza JH, Reguero MA (1990) Extensión faunística de la antigua Región Neotropical en la Península Antártica durante el Eoceno. Ameghiniana 26:245Google Scholar
  84. Lengerken H (1955) Die Brutbirnen von Deltochilum (Coleopt. Lamellicornia). Wiss Z Martin Luther Univ Halle Witte 4:933–940Google Scholar
  85. Lin Q (1980) Fossil insects. In: Zhongguo K, Nanjing D, Gushengwu Y (eds) Fossils of mesozoic deposits of volcanic origin in Zhejiang and Anhui, , Acad Sinica. Science Press, BeijingGoogle Scholar
  86. Martínez S (1982) Catálogo sistemático de los insectos fósiles de América del Sur. Revista de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias (Serie Ciencias de la Tierra) 1:29–84Google Scholar
  87. Meunier F (1921) Die Insektenreste aus dem Lutetien von Messel bei Darmstadt. Abhand Hessis Geol Land Darmstadt 7:1–16Google Scholar
  88. Monteresino EM, Zunino M (2003) Sobre el comportamiento de la alimentación de Eucraniini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). In: Onore G, Reyes Castillo P, Zunino M (eds) Escarabaeidos de Latinoamérica. Estado Actual del Conocimiento. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, Zaragoza, pp 75–80Google Scholar
  89. Nikolajev GV (2007) Mezozoiskii Etap Evolyutsii Plastinchatousykh (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Almaty, Kazak Universiteti, 222 ppGoogle Scholar
  90. Pascual R, Bondesio P (1981) Sedimentitas cenozoicas. In: Relatorio de VIII congreso geológico argentino, San Luis, pp 117–153Google Scholar
  91. Paulian R (1976) Three fossil dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from the Kenya Miocene. J East Africa Nat Hist Soc Nat Mus 31:1–4Google Scholar
  92. Pierce WD (1946) Descriptions of the dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) of the tar pits. Bull South Calif Acad Sci 45:119–131Google Scholar
  93. Retallack GJ (1984) Trace fossils of burrowing beetles and bees in an Oligocene paleosol, Badlands National Park, South Dakota. J Paleontol 58:571–592Google Scholar
  94. Retallack GJ (1991) Miocene paleosols and ape habitats of Pakistan and Kenya. Oxford University Press, New YorkGoogle Scholar
  95. Richter H (1918) Ein argentinischer Pillendreher. Zeitschrift des deutschen wissenschaftlichen vereins zur Kultur- und Landeskunde Argentiniens 5:342–347Google Scholar
  96. Roselli FL (1939) Apuntes de geología y paleontología uruguaya. Sobre insectos del Cretácico del Uruguay o descubrimiento de admirables instintos constructivos de esa época. Bol Soc Amigos Cienc Nat “Kraglievich-Fontana” 1:72–102Google Scholar
  97. Roselli FL (1976) Contribución al estudio de la geopaleontología de los departamentos de Colonia y Soriano Uruguay. Imprenta Cooperativa, MontevideoGoogle Scholar
  98. Roselli FL (1987) Paleoicnología. Nidos de insectos fósiles de la cubertura Mesozoica del Uruguay. Publ Mus Munic Nueva Palmira 1:1–56Google Scholar
  99. Sánchez MV, Genise JF (2009) Cleptoparasitism and detritivory in dung beetle fossil brood balls from Patagonia, Argentina. Palaeontology 52:837–848CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  100. Sánchez MV, Genise JF (2015) The brood ball of Canthon (Canthon) lituratus Germar (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) and its fossil counterpart Coprinisphaera cotiae Sánchez and Genise new ichnospecies, with a brief review of South American fossil brood balls. Coleopt Bull 69:73–82CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  101. Sánchez MV, González MG, Genise JF (2010a) Phytolith analysis of Coprinisphaera, unlocking dung beetle behaviour, herbivore diets and palaeoenvironments along de Middle Eocene-Early Miocene of Patagonia. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 285:224–236CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  102. Sánchez MV, Krause JM, González MG, Dinghi PA, Genise JF (2010b) The pupation chamber of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). Coleopt Bull 64:277–284CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  103. Sánchez MV, Laza JH, Bellosi ES, Genise JF (2010c) Ichnostratigraphy of middle Cenozoic Coprinisphaera from central Patagonia: Insights into the evolution of dung beetles, herbivores and grass-dominated habitats. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 297:633–648CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  104. Sánchez MV, Sarzetti L, Dinghi P, Genise JF (2012) Nests and brood balls of two South American species of Sulcophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Phanaeini). Coleopt Bull 66:55–62CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  105. Sánchez MV, Genise JF, Bellosi ES, Román-Carrión JL, Cantil LF (2013) Dung beetle brood balls from the Pleistocene highland palaeosols of Andean Ecuador: A reassessment of Sauer’s Coprinisphaera and their palaeoenvironments. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 386:257–274CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  106. Sands WS (1987) Ichnocoenoses of probable termite origin from Laetoli. In: Leakey MD, Harris JM (eds) Laetoli, a Pliocene Site in Northern Tanzania. Oxford Science, New York, pp 409–433Google Scholar
  107. Sauer W (1950) Contribuciones para el conocimiento del Cuaternario en el Ecuador. Anales Univ Central Quito 77:327–364Google Scholar
  108. Sauer W (1955) Coprinisphaera ecuadoriensis, un fósil singular del Pleistoceno. Bol Inst Cienc Nat Univ Ecuador 1:123–132Google Scholar
  109. Sauer W (1956) Coprinisphaera ecuadoriensis (Bola de Cangahua) y las esferas elaboradas actualmente por escarabajos de la familia Scarabaeidae. Bol Inform Cient Nac Quito 8:550–555Google Scholar
  110. Sauer W (1959) Merkwürdige Kugeln in Tuffen Ecuadors und ihre Deutung. Natur Volk 89:118–124Google Scholar
  111. Sauer W (1965) Geología del Ecuador. Editorial Ministerio de Educación, QuitoGoogle Scholar
  112. Scasso RA, Bellosi ES (2004) Bryn Gwyn guidebook. In: First international congress on ichnology, Trelew, pp 1–19Google Scholar
  113. Schiller W (1919) Geologie und Erdöl von Comodoro Rivadavia (Patagonien). Geol Rundsch 10:14–31CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  114. Schiller W (1925) Estratigrafía, tectónica y petróleo de Comodoro Rivadavia. Anales Mus La Plata 2:9–56Google Scholar
  115. Scholtz CH (2009) Phylogeny of the Scarabaeinae. In: Scholtz CH, Davis ALV, Kryger U (eds) Evolutionary biology and conservation of dung beetles. Pensoft, Sofia-Moscow, pp 227–327Google Scholar
  116. Scholtz CH, Davis ALV, Kryger U (2009) Evolutionary biology and conservation of dung beetles. Pensoft, Sofia-MoscowGoogle Scholar
  117. Schuster M, Duringer P, Nel A, Brunet M, Vignaud P, Mackaye HT (2000) Découverte de termitiéres fossiles dans les sites à Vertébrés du Pliocène tchadien: Description, identification et implications paléoécologiques. CR Acad Sci Paris Sci Terre Planètes 331:15–20Google Scholar
  118. Simpson GG (1935) Early and middle Tertiary geology of the Gaiman region, Chubut, Argentina. Am Mus Novit 775:1–29Google Scholar
  119. Souza Carvalho I, Gracioso DE, Sequeira Fernandes AC (2009) Uma câmara de coleóptero (Coprinisphaera) do Cretáceo Superior, Bacia Bauru. Rev Bras Geosci 39:679–684Google Scholar
  120. Spalletti LA, Mazzoni MM (1977) Sedimentología del Grupo Sarmiento en un perfil ubicado al sudeste del Lago Colhue Huapi, provincia de Chubut. Rev Mus La Plata Obra Centenario Geol 4:261–285Google Scholar
  121. Sprechmann P, Bossi J, Da Silva J (1981) Cuencas del Jurásico y Cretácico del Uruguay. In: Volkheimer W, Musacchio E (eds) Cuencas Sedimentarias del Jurásico Cretácico de América del Sur I. Comité Sudamericano del Jurásico y Cretácico, Buenos Aires, pp 239–270Google Scholar
  122. Vera R (1977) Esferas cangahua alóctonas. Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, pp 85–88Google Scholar
  123. Vera R. López R (1986) El origen de la Cangahua. Centro Panamericano de Estudios e Investigaciones Geográficas 16:21–28Google Scholar
  124. Wahl AM, Martin AJ, Hasiotis ST. 1998. Vertebrate coprolites and coprophagy traces, Chinle Formation (Late Triassic), Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Technical Report National Park Service 98/1, pp 144–148Google Scholar
  125. Walther K (1931) Sedimentos gelíticos y clastogelíticos del cretáceo superior y terciario uruguayos. Boletín del Instituto de Geología y Perforaciones, Uruguay, vol 13, pp 1–94Google Scholar
  126. Windhausen A (1921) Sobre un viaje de reconocimiento geológico en la parte Nordeste del Territorio del Chubut, con referencia especial a la cuestión de la provisión de agua de Puerto Madryn. Boletín del Ministerio de Agricultura de la Nación, Dirección General de Minas Geología e Hidrología 24, pp 1–72Google Scholar
  127. Yelinek K, Chin K (2007) Probable dung beetle burrows associated with Daemonelix, beaver burrows in the Miocene Harrison Formation, Nebraska, U.S.A. In: Bromley RG, Buatois LM, Mángano MG, Genise JF, Melchor RN (eds) Sediment-organism interactions: a multifaceted ichnology. SEPM Special Publications, Kansas, pp 343–350Google Scholar
  128. Young FN, Goff CC (1939) An annotated list of the arthropods found in burrows of the Florida gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus (Daudin). Fla Entomol 22:53–62CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  129. Young OP (1981) The attraction of neotropical Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to reptile and amphibian fecal material. Coleopt Bull 35:345–348Google Scholar
  130. Zunino M (2013) The first dung beetle retrieved from Coprinisphaeridae ichnofossils: Phanaeus violetae n. sp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) from Ecuadorian Cangahua balls. Acta Zool Mex 29:219–226Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jorge Fernando Genise
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.National Research Council of ArgentinaBuenos AiresArgentina
  2. 2.National Ichnological Collection and Division Icnología of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias NaturalesPresident of the First International Congress on Ichnology (Ichnia 2004)Buenos AiresArgentina

Personalised recommendations