PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS AND PARAPHYLY OF COPRINI AND DICHOTOMIINI (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEIDAE) - BIOGEOGRAPHIC SCENARIO

We make use of a cladistic study to establish the phylogenetic relatio nships between 27 genera of Coprini and Dichotomiini. The paraphyly of both tribes appears clear and two new monophyletic groups can be defi ned : Coprini, stat. n. and Ateuchini, stat. n. The main characters to separate these new tribes are the shape of apex of protibiae, the sha pe of anterior part of propleura and the end of median ridge of under side of protibiae. Then, in reference to this phylogeny, a biogeograph ic scenario is built. For the typical Gondwanian group Ateuchini, the fragmentation of Gondwana is hypothetized as the main event to explain the current distribution of this group. For the Coprini, the last sta ges of the fragmentation of Gondwana and secondary migrations are cons idered.