Resumen 

Se evalu� la diversidad de escarabajos del esti�rcol (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) en la zona central de la Cordillera del Cutuc�, Amazon�a ecuatoriana. Se realizaron 11 muestreos en 10 localidades, entre 500 y 2000 msnm (metros sobre el nivel del mar). En cada muestreo se colocaron en transectos de 950 m de largo, durante dos d�as, 20 trampas pitfall con heces humanas y 20 con pescado descompuesto. Se colectaron 5655 individuos de 105 especies, principalmente: Deltochilum sp. barbipes GRP., Eurysternus caribaeus (Herbst) y Coprophanaeus telamon (Erichson). El bosque muy h�medo premontano fue m�s diverso (96 especies) que el bosque h�medo montano bajo (27). Entre los dos se encontraron tres especies nuevas: Cryptocanthon n. sp 1, Cryptocanthon n. sp. 2 y Uroxys n. sp. 7; y 60 nuevos registros para el pa�s. Se encontraron tres niveles altitudinales diferenciados en su abundancia relativa: 600  700, 1100  1300 y 1700  2000 m. Con relaci�n a la riqueza de especies se encontraron patrones similares de agrupamiento, excepto entre las localidades a 1700 y 2000 msnm. Los niveles m�s diversos estuvieron entre 700 y 1300 msnm. Estos resultados sugieren que la alta diversidad de escarabajos del esti�rcol encontrada en este sector del Cutuc� se debe a la variabilidad ambiental de la gradiente altitudinal; y ratifican su importancia como �rea de conservaci�n.

Palabras clave: Cordillera del Cutuc�, Amazon�a ecuatoriana, escarabajos del esti�rcol, bosque muy h�medo premontano, bosque montano bajo.

Abstract 

An assessment of the diversity of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) was carried out in the central part of the Cutuc� Range, Ecuadorian Amazon. The composition and distribution of dung beetles in 10 sites, located from 500 to 2000 meters above sea level (masl), were determined through 11 samplings campaigns. Every sampling was done setting, during two days, 20 pitfall traps bated with human feces and 20 with decomposed fish, along a 950 meters transect. In total, 5655 beettles from 105 species were collected, the majority from: Deltochilum sp. barbipes GRP., Eurysternus caribaeus (Herbst), and Coprophanaeus telamon (Erichson). Ninety-six species were collected at the wet piedmont forest (500-1700 masl) and 27 at the humid low-mountain forest (2000 masl). Three new species were found: Cryptocanthon n. sp 1, Cryptocanthon n. sp. 2 and Uroxys n. sp. 7; but also 60 new records for the country. The more diverse sites were located between 700 and 1300 masl, but according to the relative abundance of beetles the study sites were grouped into three altitudinal levels: 600  700, 1100  1300 and 1700  2000 masl. Species richness showed similar patterns; except at 1700 and 2000 masl, which were separated into two groups. These results suggest that the high diversity of this sector is caused by its environmental variability through the altitudinal gradient; and confirm the importance of the Cutuc� Range as a conservation area.

Key words: Cutuc� Range, Ecuadorian Amazon, dung beetles, wet piedmont forest, humid low-mountain forest.