Distribution
Amazonian rainforest, the habitat of Coprophanaeus lancifer. Palumeu, central Suriname. © Conrad P D T Gillett
Coprophanaeus lancifer is found across the Amazon basin and has been recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana.
Its habitat is lowland terra firme rainforest, only occasionally in floodplain forest, where it is a nocturnal species with crepuscular flying habits - flying at dawn and dusk - that feeds on vertebrate carrion.
The beetles noisily take to the wing around the time of sunset in their search for animal carcasses, which they are able to locate with great efficiency thanks to very sensitive chemoreceptors on their antennae, like all scarab dung beetles.
