Editing Silphidae (section)

==Diversity and distribution==
Silphidae are [[omnipresence|ubiquitous]] and are most abundant in the temperate zone. The diversity is also greater in the temperate zone and they are quite rare in the tropics although there are species endemic to the region. It is thought that ants, flies and other carrion feeders outcompete them in these regions.<ref>{{cite book|author=Ratcliffe B.C.|year=1996| title=The carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Nebraska. Bulletin 13.|place=Lincoln, USA|publisher=University of Nebraska State Museum}}</ref> They vary in size from 7 to 45&nbsp;mm.<ref name=europe>{{cite journal | journal= Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment |year= 2011 |volume=15| issue=3| pages=435–447| title=Large carrion beetles (Coleoptera, Silphidae) in Western Europe: a review|author1=Dekeirsschieter, Jessica |author2=François Verheggen |author3=Georges Lognay |author4=Eric Haubruge |url=http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v15n3/435.pdf}}</ref>

There are about 46 different species of Silphidae in North America which include ''Heterosilpha ramosa'', ''Necrodes surinamensis'', ''[[Necrophila americana]]'', ''[[Nicrophorus americanus]]'', ''[[Nicrophorus carolinus]]'', ''[[Nicrophorus investigator]]'', ''[[Nicrophorus marginatus]]'', ''[[Nicrophorus orbicollis]]'', ''[[Nicrophorus tomentosus]]'', ''Oiceoptoma inaequale'', ''[[Oiceoptoma noveboracense]]'', ''Oiceoptoma rugulosum'', ''Thanatophilus lapponicus''.<ref name="book">{{cite book|author=Byrd, Jason H.|author2=Castner, James L. |title=Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations|place=Boca Raton|publisher=CRC Press LLC|year=2001|pages=10, 37, 189–199}}</ref><ref name=canada>{{cite book |title=The insects and arachnids of Canada. Part 13. The Carrion Beetles of Canada and Alaska. Coleoptera: Silphidae and Agyrtidae |author1=Anderson, RS |author2=SB Peck |name-list-style=amp |year=1985 |publisher=Agriculture Canada |url=http://www.esc-sec.ca/aafcmonographs/insects_and_arachnids_part_13.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615015936/http://esc-sec.ca/aafcmonographs/insects_and_arachnids_part_13.pdf |archive-date=2013-06-15 }}</ref> A species found in Great Britain is ''Oiceoptoma thoracicum''.

One species of ''Nicrophorus'', ''[[Nicrophorus nepalensis]]'', can be found primarily in the mountains of eastern Asia as well as along the Malay Archipelago. ''Nicrophorus nepalensis'' are found in the Indian subcontinent as well in the countries of India and Pakistan.