Congruence Between Molecular Data and Morphology: Phylogenetic Position of Senodoniini (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Abstract

Senodoniini is a small lineage of click beetles currently comprising 21 species in two genera, distributed in the Himalayas and East and Southeast Asia. The definition and limits of this group have changed considerably during its history. Recent authors treat Senodoniini as a tribe within Dendrometrinae, usually close to Dimini, but this placement has never been rigorously tested. Here, we shed new light on the systematic position and limits of Senodoniini by performing a combined phylogenetic analysis of two nuclear and two mitochondrial molecular markers. Our results recovered Senodoniini not monophyletic, and placed them into the Lissominae complex, where they formed a clade with Austrelater Calder & Lawrence (Protelaterini). Molecular phylogeny is in agreement with the adult morphology. Additionally, we examined the morphology of a monotypic genus Rostricephalus Fleutiaux from Southeast Asia, which was previously classified in various Elateridae groups including Senodoniini, and its position was always uncertain. This genus shares morphological characters with Protelaterini. We provide morphological redescriptions as well as the figures of main diagnostic characters for Senodonia Laporte, Sossor Candèze, and Rostricephalus. Based on our results, we place these genera to Lissominae: Protelaterini, and hence synonymize Senodoniini Schenkling with Protelaterini Schwarz.

Fossil Genera in Elateridae (Insecta, Coleoptera): A Triassic Origin and Jurassic Diversification

“…Elateridae are among the most common beetle families in the fossil record [ 16 , 54 , 128 ]. However, their real palaeodiversity remains understudied [ 16 ], most probably because of their rather uniform and generally problematic external morphology which often causes problems even in identification and classification of recent lineages [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Consequently, the systematics and classification of fossil elaterids has been in a constant state of flux.…”

“…This is not surprising, because the morphological limits of many elaterid subfamilies and tribes are uncertain and there is no reliable identification key to higher taxa which would be valid worldwide. Often, there are no clear synapomorphies available even for the apparently monophyletic groups defined by the molecular-based phylogenetic methods [ 1 , 9 , 10 ]. Moreover, many higher taxa are defined by the combination of characters including some which are usually not available for the fossils, such as the larval morphology, wing venation, etc., [ 4 , 9 , 78 ].…”

“…The only exception is Alaodima , which is assigned to Dimini, but there is an ongoing debate if this group belongs to Dendrometrinae or forms a separate subfamily [ 13 , 72 ]. The missing record of Elaterinae and Dendrometrinae genera in the early evolution of Elateridae is most probably artificial, because they belong to the basal-most splits based on the results of recent molecular phylogenetic analyses [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. This situation may be partly caused by the hard-to-observe morphological characters defining the subfamilies and their tribes [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 78 ], which are usually not visible even if the fossils are well-preserved.…”

“…We provide information on all fossil genus-group names in Elateridae, including their current systematic status. The family classification follows that of Kundrata et al [ 9 ], with subsequent changes made by Kusy et al [ 8 ] and Kundrata et al [ 10 ]. Generally, we follow the style used in the first part of the World catalogue of the genus-group names in Elateridae [ 40 ].…”

“…With the rise of molecular phylogenetic analyses, several soft-bodied groups, which were previously considered separate families, i.e., Drilidae, Omalisidae, and Plastoceridae, were merged with Elateridae [ 7 , 8 ]. However, the internal phylogenetic relationships, as well as the suprageneric classification of the group, remain open to further study [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”