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Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of the subgenus Gnathopaederus Chapin and related groups of Paederus s.l. (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae : Paederinae)

Xiao-Yan Li A and Hong-Zhang Zhou A B
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A Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chao Yang, 100101 Beijing, P.R. China.

B Corresponding author. Email: zhouhz@ioz.ac.cn

Invertebrate Systematics 23(5) 422-444 https://doi.org/10.1071/IS09015
Submitted: 7 March 2009  Accepted: 27 July 2009   Published: 16 December 2009

Abstract

The paederine genus Paederus s.l. (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae) is a hyperdiverse group of some 500 species worldwide. Although the subtribe Paederina, in which the genus resides, is monophyletic the status of numerous genera and subgenera is questionable and the current classification is likely to be flawed. As part of detailed studies on the paederine fauna of China, we undertook a preliminary morphologically-based phylogenetic analysis to determine the relationships of Paederus (Gnathopaederus) and related subgenera, as a basis for a revision of the subgenus, and as an attempt to provide a better framework for future taxonomic studies on the group as a whole. The analysis was based on 66 adult morphological characters for 30 ingroup taxa, including all six species of P. (Gnathopaederus). The results show that P. (Gnathopaederus) and P. (Paederus), and the genera Megalopaederus, Pachypaederus and Paederidus are monophyletic, and that P. (Eopaederus) and P. (Harpopaederus) are paraphylyetic. However, our analysis did not offer a robust solution to relationships among other clades within Paederus s.l. although it seems clear that Paederus s.l. is not monophyletic with respect to the above genera. The monophyly of P. (Gnathopaederus) is supported by the mandibular basal medial tooth having two cuspids separated dorsoventrally. Based largely on this character state, the definition of the subgenus is refined; six species are recognized, including two new species described from China as follows: P. (G.) daozhenensis, sp. nov. from Guizhou, and P. (G.) jilongensis, sp. nov. from Xizang; three species, P. bursavacua Willers, P. yunnanensis Willers and P. solodovnikovi Willers, are newly assigned to the subgenus according to a revised subgeneric definition. New morphological characters including important secondary sexual characters and sexual dimorphism are described and male genitalia are illustrated for the first time for the type species of the subgenus, P. (G.) szechuanus (Chapin). A key to the six species is presented and the distribution of each species is documented and discussed.

Additional keywords: biogeography, new species, phylogeny.


Acknowledgements

We are particularly indebted to Dr Lee Herman (AMNH) for sending important specimens and providing many valuable suggestions to improve the manuscript. We are also grateful to Mrs Isabelle Zürcher-Pfander, Dr Michel Brancucci (NHMB), Dr Boris Kataev, Dr Mark G. Volkovitsh (ZIN), Ms Mercedes París (MNCN), Mr Joachim Willers, Dr Johannes Frisch, Dr Manfred Uhlig (ZMHB), Dr Harald Schillhammer (NHMW), Dr Giulio Cuccodoro (MHMG), Dr Lothar Zerche (ZALF), Dr Patrick Grootaert (IRSNB) and Dr Alfred F. Newton and Dr. James H. Boone (FMNH) for sending us important specimens and other materials. We also thank Dr Alexey Solodovnikov, Ms Andrea Schomann (Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen), Dr Robert Anderson (Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa) and five anonymous referees for many valuable suggestions to improve the manuscript. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC-30670285), the National Key Technology R&D Program (2008BAC39B02), CAS Innovation Program (KSCX2-YW-Z-0910) and National Science Fund for Fostering Talents in Basic Research (Special subjects in animal taxonomy). The study was conducted in the Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and supported by a grant (No. O529YX5105) from this laboratory.


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