Phylogenetics, historical biogeography and molecular species delimitation of Gnaptorina Reitter (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptini)

With 38 described species or subspecies, Gnaptorina Reitter is the second‐most species‐rich genus in the darkling beetle subtribe Gnaptorinina (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae). In this study, we reconstructed a phylogeny of the genus based on one nuclear and three mitochondrial genes and used this phy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Systematic entomology 2021-01, Vol.46 (1), p.239-251
Main Authors: Li, Xiu‐Min, Bai, Xing‐Long, Kergoat, Gael J., Pan, Zhao, Ren, Guo‐Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biogeography
Eocene
Life Sciences
Mitochondria
Phylogeny
Species
Tenebrionidae
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Summary:With 38 described species or subspecies, Gnaptorina Reitter is the second‐most species‐rich genus in the darkling beetle subtribe Gnaptorinina (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae). In this study, we reconstructed a phylogeny of the genus based on one nuclear and three mitochondrial genes and used this phylogeny to explore the historical biography and diversification of Gnaptorina species. We implemented multiple molecular species delimitation approaches to reassess the status of Gnaptorina species and taxonomic subdivisions of the genus. Dating and historical biogeography analyses suggest an early Eocene origin of the genus, with the southeastern regions of the Tibetan Plateau most likely as areas of origin. Based on these results, we propose a new classification for Gnaptorina with three major clades identified. Consequently, the monotypic subgenus Boreoptorina is newly synonymized with the more species‐rich subgenus Hesperoptorina, and G. dongdashanensis Shi is transferred from Hesperoptorina to the subgenus Gnaptorina. In addition, G. minxiana Medvedev, formerly treated as a subspecies of G. potanini Reitter, is elevated to species. Results of molecular species delimitation analyses are largely congruent and confirm the status of most morphological species. Phylogenetics reassess the taxonomic subdivisions of the genus. Molecular species delimitation analyses supported the status most of the extant morphospecies. Historical biogeography analyses revealed the genus Gnaptorina likely originated from the ‘Eastern Himalayas and Southeastern Tibetan Plateau’ during the early Eocene.
ISSN:0307-6970
1365-3113
DOI:10.1111/syen.12459