Ochodaeidae
# Ochodaeidae

Ochodaeidae, also known as the sand-loving scarab beetles, is a small family of scarabaeiform beetles occurring in many parts of the world.

These beetles are small, ranging from 3–10 millimetres (0.12–0.39 in). Their bodies are elongate and convex, with black and brown colors including yellowish- and reddish-brown shades.

As of 2012, the biology and habits of Ochodaeidae beetles is still mostly unknown. Most types have been collected in sandy areas at night, while some of their species are active during the day.

## Taxonomy

Ochodaeidae beetles belong to the infraorder Scarabaeiformia, which contains only one superfamily, the Scarabaeoidea. The most striking feature of the Scarabaeoidea are the ends of their antennae, that are divided into several lamellae, thus resembling a fan. Another distinguishing feature are their legs, that possess teeth and are adapted for digging.

Ochodaeidae is divided into two subfamilies containing five tribes and 15 genera:

* Subfamily Ochodaeinae Mulsant & Rey, 1871

   * Tribe Enodognathini Scholtz, 1988

          Enodognathus Benderitter, 1921
          Odontochodaeus Paulian, 1976
   * Tribe Ochodaeini Mulsant & Rey, 1871

          Codocera Eschscholtz, 1818
          Cucochodaeus Paulsen, 2007
          Neochodaeus Nikolayev, 1995
          Notochodaeus Nikolajev, 2005
          Ochodaeus Dejean, 1821
          Parochodaeus Nikolayev, 1995
          Xenochodaeus Paulsen, 2007
* Subfamily Chaetocanthinae Scholtz in Scholtz, D'Hotman, Evans & Nel, 1988

   * Tribe Chaetocanthini Scholtz in Scholtz, D'Hotman, Evans & Nel, 1988

          Chaetocanthus Péringuey, 1901
          Mioochodaeus Nikolajev, 1995
          Namibiotalpa Scholtz & Evans, 1987
   * Tribe Pseudochodaeini Scholtz, 1988

          Pseudochodaeus Carlson & Richter, 1974
   * Tribe Synochodaeini Scholtz, 1988

          Synochodaeus Kolbe, 1907
          Gauchodaeus Paulsen, 2012
