Classification, relationships and distribution of the genera of Cyphaleini (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Examination of the external and internal adult skeletal morphology of Cyphaleini, an autochthonous Australian tribe, has resulted in a reduction in the number of genera from 33 to 19. Character-state polarity was established by comparison with the related outgroups, Heleini, Tenebrionini and Titaenini. Of the 40 characters considered phylogenetically important, 10 were selected to manually construct a cladogram serving as the basis for proposing hypotheses on relationships between genera, evolutionary trends and historical events leading to the present distribution of the group.

Fifteen former generic names are considered to have an insufficient phylogenetic basis at generic level and are synonymised as follows (synonyms first): Timeneca Carter, 1914 = Mitrothorax Carter, 1914; Laonicus Haag-Rutenberg, 1878 = Opigenia Pascoe, 1869 = Platyphanes Westwood, 1849; Aphectus Carter, 1926 = Olisthaena Erichson, 1842; Ononyctus Carter, 1914 = Aethalides Bates, 1873 = Onosterrhus Pascoe, 1866 = Nyctozoilus Guérin-Méneville, 1830; Lygestira Pascoe, 1866 = Prophanes Westwood, 1849; Trisilus Haag-Rutenberg, 1878 = Anausis Bates, 1873 = Altes Pascoe, 1869 = Oremasis Pascoe, 1866 = Chartopteryx Westwood, 1841 = Cyphaleus Westwood, 1841; Pseudobolbophanes Kulzer, 1954 = Bolbophanes Carter, 1913; Cyclophanes Carter, 1913 = Hemicyclus Westwood 1841. One new genus, Chlorophanes, is proposed for the single species Trisilus punctipennis (Carter).

The 82 new combinations proposed are listed in an appendix at the end of the paper.