Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Ammophorus obscurus G.R. Waterhouse, 1845

Escarabajo tenebriónido, Darkling beetle

Scavenger; littoral to transition pampa zones; January–July, September–December; under stones, at lights, in litter, carrion traps, dung traps, pit traps, bottle traps, fruit-baited traps.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Arthropoda

Class
Insecta

Order
Coleoptera

Suborder
Polyphaga

Superfamily
Tenebrionoidea

Family
Tenebrionidae

Section
Nyctoporini

Genus
Ammophorus

Species
obscurus

Taxon category: Accepted

Origin: Endemic

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Baltra, Caamaño, Daphne Major, Eden, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, Pinzón, Rábida, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Seymour, Plaza Sur

References

  • Peck, S.B. (2006) The Beetles of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity (Insecta: Coleoptera) NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 314 pp.
  • Blair, K.G. (1928) Coleoptera (Heteromera, Teredilia, Malacodermata, and Bruchidae) from the Galapagos Islands, collected on the 'St. George' Expedition, 1924. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 10, 1: 671-680.
  • Blair, K.G. (1933) Further Coleoptera from the Galapagos Archipelago. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 10, 11: 471-487.
  • Franz, H. (1985) Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Koleopterenfauna der Galapagos-Inseln. Österr. Akad. Wissensch. Mathem.-naturw. Kl., Abt. I, 194(1-5): 73-124.
  • Linsley, E.G. Usinger, R.L. (1966) Insects of the Galápagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Fourth Series 33(7): 113-196.
  • Van Dyke, E.C. (1953) The Coleoptera of the Galapagos Islands. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences 22: 1-181.
  • Kaszab, Z. (1970) Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae. Mission Zool. Belge aux îles Galapagos et en Ecuador (N. et J. Leleup, 1964-1965) 2: 183-210.
  • Mutchler, A.J. (1925) Coleoptera. From the Williams Galapagos Expedition. Zoologica 5(20): 219-240.
  • Linell, M.L. (1898) On the coleopterous insects of the Galapagos Islands. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 21(1143): 249-268.
  • Mutchler, A.J. (1938) Coleoptera from the Galapagos Islands. American Museum Novitates 981: 1-19.
  • Waterhouse, G.R. (1845) Descriptions of coleopterous insects collected by Charles Darwin, Esq., in the Galapagos Islands. Ann. Nat. Hist. 16: 19-41.

You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.

This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Ammophorus obscurus", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5524. Accessed 8 May 2025.