We document the first case of phoresy by dung beetles with a rodent, involving Canthon ( Goniocanthon ) smaragdulus subviridis and agoutis ( Dasyprocta azarae ). Camera traps set in a tropical forest recorded 21 phoretic events, with agoutis carrying 1–6 beetles each. This behavior likely enhances how beetles locate fresh dung.
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Souza et al. (2026) studied this question.
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