Systematic position and cladistic analysis of Gyrasida Koch, a remarkable genus of Praocini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Chile

Abstract

Gyrasida Koch (Pimeliinae: Praocini), distributed in central Chile is elevated to generic status and transferred from Asidini to Praocini on the basis of constant tribal level characters. Prior to this study Gyrasida was considered a subgenus of the South African Afrasida Wilke. Character states of Gyrasida shared with the other genera of Praocini and not shared with genera of Asidini are discussed. A cladistic analysis of the six species of the genus is presented including: G. propensa (Wilke) (type species), G. lucianoi Flores & Vidal, G. fernandoi Flores & Vidal, G. tomasi Vidal, G. franciscae Vidal, and G. camilae Vidal. This article includes a redescription of the genus, habitus photographs, illustrations of external morphology and genitalic features, a cladogram, and a distribution map.