Sexual selection in dung beetles. I. A multivariate study of the morphological variation in two species of Onthophagus (Scarabaeidae: Onthophagini)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1987
Authors:D. Cook
Journal:Australian Journal of Zoology
Volume:35
Pagination:123-132
Abstract:

Sexual dimorphism in horned beetles reflects a history of different selection pressures operating on males and females. A multivariate morphometric analysis was carried out on two scarabaeine dung beetles, Onthophagus binodis Thunberg and 0. ferox Harold. There is clear structural polymorphism within 0. binodis; horned males, females and hornless males were separated on the basis of body shape. Sexual dimorphism within 0. ferox was established; sexes were separated according to the size of pronotal and cephalic horns. The effect of differential selection is discussed within the context of sexual selection.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith