Position and Relationships of Ripiphoridae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) Inferred from Ribosomal and Mitochondrial Molecular Markers

Ripiphoridae phylogeny inferred from rRNA and mtDNA markers and 23 taxa from four subfamilies is presented. Despite much denser sampling than previous studies and completeness of the assembled dataset, the phylogenetic signal from molecular markers remains ambiguous. The dataset does not support monophyly of Ripiphoridae and suggests the Ripiphoridae + Mordellidae clade with ripiphorid lineages forming gradual splits basally to Mordellidae. Previous hypotheses on relationships of Meloidae and Ripiphoridae and a single origin of developmental modifications are refuted. The ripiphorid subfamilies are regularly recovered and we found Pelecotominae and Ptilophorinae among deep splits. Ripidiinae, despite morphological divergence, are regularly found within the ripiphorid+mordellid clade in a sister relationships to Ripiphorinae + Mordellidae. Molecular phylogeny of Ptilophorus Dejean supports a hypothesis about their Gondwanan origin and subsequent dispersal to the Northern hemisphere. The clade Mac...