carrion beetle

2 definitions found

carrion beetle - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Necrophore \Nec"ro*phore\, n. [Gr. nekro`s a dead body + fe`rein
     to bear.] (Zool.)
     Any one of numerous species of beetles of the genus
     Necrophorus and allied genera; -- called also burying beetle
     , carrion beetle, sexton beetle.
     [1913 Webster]

  Carrion \Car"ri*on\, a.
     Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on
     carrion.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           A prey for carrion kites.                --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Carrion beetle (Zool.), any beetle that feeds habitually on
        dead animals; -- also called sexton beetle and burying  beetle
        . There are many kinds, belonging mostly to the
        family Silphid[ae].
  
     Carrion buzzard (Zool.), a South American bird of several
        species and genera (as Ibycter, Milvago, and
        Polyborus), which act as scavengers. See Caracara.
  
     Carrion crow, the common European crow (Corvus corone)
        which feeds on carrion, insects, fruits, and seeds.
        [1913 Webster]