Towards a natural classification of the subtribe Philonthina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini): a phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical genera

CHANI POSSE, M.

SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY (PRINT)

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012 p. 1 - 17

0307-6970

Philonthina, the largest subtribe of the rove beetle tribe Staphylinini, isa hyperdiverse group in the Neotropical Region, accounting for about half of thegenera of the subtribe. Despite such diversity, Neotropical Philonthina have neverbeen analysed phylogenetically, deterring formulation of a modern classificationof the Staphylinini. A cladistic analysis of Neotropical Philonthina was performedbased on 110 morphological characters and 77 terminal taxa. Representatives ofPhilonthina from other regions and other main lineages of Staphylinini, Arrowinini andPlatyprosopini were included to test their relationships with Neotropical Philonthina.The major results are the monophyly of 11 of the 17 endemic Neotropical genera ofPhilonthina, the placement of Holisus Erichson (Hyptiomina) into this clade showinga sister group relationship to myrmecophile genera, and the position of ErichsoniusFauvel outside of Philonthina within Staphylinini. Six of the current seven species ofEndeius Coiffait & S´aiz group with Neotropical species of Philonthus Stephens. Theseparation of Gondwana about 65 my and major landscape modifications in the vastinterior of northern South America during the past 25 my is proposed to explain theevolution of the endemic Neotropical genera of Philonthina. The following taxonomicchanges are proposed: Erichsonius Fauvel, 1874 now placed as incertae sedis inStaphylinini; Endeius Coiffait & Saiz, 1968, n.syn. of Philonthus Stephens, 1929and Endeius nitidipennis (Solier, 1849) placed as incertae sedis in Philonthina. Thefollowing new combinations are proposed: Philonthus franzi (Saiz, 1971), comb.n.,Philonthus loensis (Coiffait & Saiz, 1968), comb.n., Philonthus lugubris (Saiz, 1971),comb.n., Philonthus ovaliceps (Coiffait, 1981), comb.n., Philonthus punctipennis(Solier, 1849), comb.res. and Philonthus subpunctipennis (Coiffait & Saiz, 1968),comb.n. Philonthus herberti, n.nov., is proposed for Philonthus franzi Schillhammer,1998, which is a junior secondary homonym of Philonthus franzi (Saiz, 1971).