Abstract:
Recent phylogenetic analyses have pointed to the dung beetle genus Epirinus as the
putative African ancestral roller group. Consequently, we tested the roller status of species in the
genus with observational studies and constructed a molecular phylogeny based on partial
sequences of two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes for 16 of 29 species. Tested species were
confirmed to be dung rollers. Monophyly of the genus was confirmed, lending support to the
synonymy of the wingless genus Endroedyantus with Epirinus. Moreover, the phylogenetic
hypothesis was found to have a similar topology with a previously published one based on
morphological data. A combined molecular/morphology analysis showed congruence between
the molecular and morphological datasets. The loss of flight in some species and estimated
divergence dates within Epirinus are discussed.
