Varieties or forms that have been recognized at times include the following:[1] These are now regarded as synonyms of the parent taxon;[2] the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature does not recognize named forms other than subspecies.

[5][6] The adults of A. stercorosus grow up to 12–19 millimetres (0.47–0.75 in) long [7][8] and therefore they do not reach the length of the very similar common dung beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius).

[5] In spring they lay eggs in chambers at the end of a corridor dug in the soil that is approximately 70–80 centimetres (28–31 in) long,[5][failed verification] in which dead plant matter[9][10] or feces of herbivorous and omnivorous animals[5] are placed to feed the larvae.

The larvae overwinter and pupate in spring, requiring a year to complete the whole process.

[7][11][12] They may also feed on litter mold, decomposing fungi and Phallus impudicus.