A checklist of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) associated with the Vypin-Kadamakkudy Barrier Island System, Kerala, India

Abstract

Barrier islands are one of the most dynamic ecosystems that are constantly changing with waves, wind, tidal energies, and so on. These islands are placed parallel to the shore with gently sloping coastal plains and a moderate tidal range supported by estuaries and wetlands. They act as a natural barrier to protect the land from high tides and support diverse taxa. Dung beetles are ecologically important organisms that facilitate various services influencing the total stability of that ecosystem. They can be considered as a focal taxon, and their conservation and protection keep the ecosystem clean and healthy. The present study is a preliminary study on the dung beetles from a tropical barrier island system; the Vypin-Kadamakkudy Barrier Island System; located in the Kerala part of the south Indian coast. The study accounted for 29 dung beetle species of eight genera under three tribes. The heavily populated island system is marked by two new reports to Kerala, namely, Catharsius pithecius Fabricius, 1775 and Digitonthophagus bonasus (Fabricius, 1775). Four species reported are already categorized as rare in the South Western Ghats.

Keywords

• barrier islands
• coastal area
• dung beetles
• Kadamakkudy
• Vypin