Aphodiinae Leach, 1815

Published, First, 2007, A review of the Aphodiinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of southern South America, Zootaxa 1458, pp. 1-80 : 15

Subfamily Aphodiinae Leach, 1815

Type genus: Aphodius Illiger in Kugelann and Illiger, 1798: 15.

Diagnosis: Small, length mostly less than 15 mm, body more or less elongate. Head nearly always with clypeus covering mouthparts, sometimes exposing tips of mandibles. Mandible usually reduced and membranous, rarely sclerotized. Antenna with 9 segments, club pubescent and 3-segmented. Elytral base bordered or not. Pygidium smooth, without transverse ridge or longitudinal groove at base, often exposed. Femur smooth or with grooves on anterior or posterior margin. Mesocoxae contiguous or nearly so. Metatibia variable, but usually dilated at apex, usually with 2 apical spurs. Elytra nearly or entirely covering pygidium. Abdomen with 6 visible sternites, segments connate or not. Tarsi with distinct claws, rarely with claws reduced.