INTRODUCTION - Biodiversity and importance of estimation... - Andes... Colombia (Biodiversity spot - relationship with altitude) - Mammal diversity... (it’s difficult to study: time, high cost, big areas, many people, etc.) - Solution: use of bio indicators like Dung beetles to predict distribution and diversity patterns. The study and inventory of diverse areas is a global priority that should be supported with the highest research infrastructure as possible, especially when it comes to critical diverse groups such as mammals that could be declining in not very well conserved areas. Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) are one of the most commonly used bio indicators groups because of their ecological roles in the ecosystem . Adults and larvae are atracted and feed on dung produced by mammals , thus helping to recycle organic matter (Howden & Young 1981, , Gill 1991). Among the countries located in the Neotropics, Colombia has one of the highest levels of dung beetles diversity. Knowledge about this group has been growing over the last two decades thanks to the publication of several important articles (Escobar & Medina 1996, Amat et al. 1997, Amezquita et al. 1999, Escobar 2000, Medina et al. 2001, 2002, Escobar 2004, Escobar et al. 2005, Fuentes & Camero 2006, Noriega et al. 2007, Martinez et al. 2009, Giraldo et al. 2011, Solis et al. 2011, Cultid et al. 2012, Delgado-Gómez et al. 2012, Noriega et al. 2012, Otavo et al. 2013). Hypothesis: Beetle point pattern is predicted by altitude and mammal diversity. (No sería al reves Diego? Los escarabajos serian los predictores de la diversidad de los Mamiferos?)