Abstract:
Cnodocentron has a disjunct laurasian distribution, with species in Southeastern Asia and New World separated into different subgenera, Cnodocentron and Caenocentron. Here, we infer the evolutionary history of the genus through phylogenetic and biogeographic data combining COI and 46 morphological characters. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence time estimation were simultaneously inferred through Bayesian analyses. The dating analysis was performed through relaxed morphological and molecular clocks. The historical biogeography was investigated through the Dispersal–Extinction–Cladogenesis model. Our results indicated the polyphyly of the genus Cnodocentron, each subgenus being more related to other genera from the same biogeographic region than to each other. Therefore, the subgenus Caenocentron was elevated to generic status. The biogeographical analysis showed that the Oriental Cnodocentron diverged in the Indian subcontinent during the Middle Eocene, while the New World Caenocentron stat. nov. originated in the Chortis block in the Late Eocene. The dispersal of Caenocentron to South America occurred only after the Late Miocene around 10 Mya. Additionally, we provide a revision of the species of Caenocentron stat. nov., with identification key and description of the male and female of two new species from Costa Rica: Caenocentron carlosdelarosai sp. nov. and Caenocentron rafamoralesi sp. nov.
