How many cows are in the desert? Molecular phylogeny and species delimitation of the genus Gyriosomus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae) from the Atacama Desert

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Title:Main Title: How many cows are in the desert? Molecular phylogeny and species delimitation of the genus Gyriosomus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae) from the Atacama Desert
Description:Abstract: Gyriosomus is a genus of charismatic tenebrionids endemic to Chile, commonly known as vaquitas del desierto’. They are distributed from 25° S to 34° S, almost exclusively within the Coquimban Biogeographic Province. They are notable for the explosive and massive appearance of adults associated with blooming desert events in Atacama. Since their initial description in 1834, 44 species have been classified, but the genus has not undergone a comprehensive systematic revision. Using molecular markers, taxonomic issues related to the use of morphological characters have recently been identified. In this study, we evaluated the phylogenetic relationships within Gyriosomus and the congruence of the current taxonomic scenario with our results. We conducted an exhaustive sampling across the entire distribution range of the genus. Specifically, we reconstructed a molecular phylogeny based on four genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ‘COI’, wingless ‘Wg’, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase ‘CAD’ and 28S ribosomal RNA ‘28S’) with 41 of the 44 described species and performed unilocus and multilocus molecular species delimitation analyses. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that the 45 genetically evaluated species are organized into nine distinct clades. Only half of the previously described species were validated by the molecular species delimitation analyses. The rest are likely new candidate species, with some potentially being synonyms. External morphology alone may not be sufficient to support the taxonomy due to the plasticity of these characters. We also found a zone of ‘High Cladistic Sympatry’, inhabited by representatives of different clades. In this zone, we encountered polymorphic and cryptic species and a high degree of convergence between clades, which complicates the study of these darkling beetles.
Responsible Party
Creators:Simón Anguita-Salinas (Author), Marcelo Guerrero (Author), Víctor Manuel Diéguez (Author), Pablo Pinto (Author), Sebastián Larra-Meza (Author), Alfonso Jara (Author), Reinhard Predel (Author), Alvaro Zúñiga-Reinoso (Author)
Publisher:Wiley
Publication Year:2025
Topic
CRC1211 Topic:Biology
Related Subproject:B2
Subjects:Keywords: Biodiversity, Phylogeny, Taxonomy
Geogr. Information Topic:Biota
File Details
Filename:AnguitSalinas_etal_2025.pdf
Data Type:Data Paper - Article
File Size:3.3 MB
Date:Available: 09.09.2025
Mime Type:application/pdf
Data Format:PDF
Language:English
Status:Completed
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Download Permission:Free
General Access and Use Conditions:According to the CRC1211DB data policy agreement.
Access Limitations:According to the CRC1211DB data policy agreement.
Licence:[CRC1211DB] Data policy agreement
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Specific Information - Publication
Publication Status:Peer-Reviewed
Review Status:Peer reviewed
Publication Type:Article
Article Type:Journal
Source:Systematic Entomology
Volume:51
Number of Pages:17 (1 - 17)
Metadata Details
Metadata Creator:Alvaro Zúñiga
Metadata Created:26.03.2026
Metadata Last Updated:26.03.2026
Subproject:B2
Funding Phase:2
Metadata Language:English
Metadata Version:V50
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