Phylogenomics resolves a 200-year-old puzzle: a revised tribal classification of Afro-Eurasian dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae)

作者：Giulio Montanaro, Fernando Lopes, Nicole L. Gunter, Clarke H. Scholtz, Adrian L. V. Davis, Federica Losacco, Michele Rossini, Conrad P. D. T. Gillett, Natalie A. Saxton, Rachel L. Stone, Gimo M. Daniel, Sergei Tarasov · 发表于：bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.64898/2026.07.22.740134 · 研究领域：Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography、Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies、Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution

ABSTRACT Background The tribal classification of scarab dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) is currently largely incomplete due to the lack of robust phylogenetic evidence supporting the assignment of many Afro-Eurasian and American genera to tribes. Methods We used ultraconserved elements (UCEs) to infer phylogenetic relationships across most Afro-Eurasian dung beetle lineages, including 25 of the 27 extant genera currently incertae sedis . Results We recovered full support for the monophyly of previously recognised tribes and for several phylogenetically and morphologically clearly delimited new tribal-level clades, allowing us to propose a complete tribal classification for all Afro-Eurasian dung beetle genera. Thirteen new tribes are described and diagnosed: Aphengoecini trib. nov. , Bohepilissini trib. nov. , Catharsiini trib. nov. , Chalconotini trib. nov. , Circelliini trib. nov. , Dwesasilvasedini trib. nov. , Haroldiini trib. nov. , Heliocoprini trib. nov. , Janssensantini trib. nov. , Macroderini trib. nov. , Nesovinsoniini trib. nov. , Pycnopanelini trib. nov. and Tanzanolini trib. nov . The tribe Coprini sensu novo is redefined as comprising three subtribes: Coprina, Onychothecina subtrib. nov. and Pedariina subtrib. nov . The tribe Odontolomini is downranked to a subtribe of Endroedyolini sensu novo , becoming Endroedyolini Odontolomina stat. nov . The tribe Onthophagini sensu novo is redefined and divided into three subtribes: Helictopleurina stat. nov. , On...