Classification

Scientific name: Necrophila americana, however the scientific name was recently changed from Silpha americana.

Common name: American Carrion Beetle

The common name was given to this beetle because it lives in most of Central and North America and also carrion means dead or putrefying flesh, which is the primary food source of this beetle.

Doman: Eukarya

The organisms that are classified as Eukaryotes have a nucleus which separates them from prokaryotes.

Kingdom: Animalia

Organisms that are classified as Animalia are multicellular, heterotrophic, and most are motile.

Phylum: Arthropoda

Organisms that are classified as Arthropods have segmented bodies, segmented appendages, and an exoskeleton.

Class: Insecta

            Organisms classified as Insects also have compound eyes, and a pair of antenna.

Order: Coleoptera

Organisms classified in the order Coleoptera are distinguished by a hard exoskeleton and hard forewings.

Family: Silphidae

            Organisms classified into the family Silphidae feed on decaying organic matter.

Genus: Necrophila

            Organisms classified into the genus Necrophila feed on dead and decaying animals.

Species: Necrophila Americana

The scientific name can be broken down into three main parts. The first being Necro- which means "dead body" in Latin. The second being -phila which means "loving" in Latin. The two parts that make up the genus of this species are referring to the primary food source of the American carrion beetle. Lastly, the specific epithet americana refers to the home of this organism: America.

Classification information from (Gordh and Headrick, 2001).

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