Multilocus phylogeny defines a new classification of Staphylininae (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae), a rove beetle group with high lineage diversity

We provide the first multilocus molecular phylogeny of a group corresponding to the former subfamily Staphylininae. Results are corroborated by the morphological, biogeographical and palaeobiological evidence to serve as a baseline for an updated suprageneric classification. The former subfamily Staphylininae is proven to be a lineage sister to the monophyletic Paederinae and reclassified according to a robust phylogeny resolving a number of long-standing controversies. The subfamily Xantholininae (revised status) is reinstated to contain the tribes Xantholinini, Othiini, Maorothiini and Diochini. Subfamily Platyprosopinae (revised status) is reinstated for the tribes Platyprosopinini, Arrowinini and ?Thayeralinini. For a highly peculiar genus Coomania Cameron, formerly in Diochini, a new subfamily Coomaniinae subfam.n. is established and the composition of Diochini (revised status) is changed accordingly. The subfamily Staphylininae (revised status) is reduced to contain the former tribe Staphylinini only. Elevating this mega-diverse tribe to the subfamily rank opened up an opportunity for its more fractional classification by raising several subtribes to the tribal level as follows: Acylophorini, Afroquediini, Amblyopinini, Antimerini, ?Baltognathini, Cyrtoquediini, Erichsoniini, Hyptiomini, Indoquediini, Quediini and Tanygnathinini (revised status for all). As a result, the most species-rich tribe Staphylinini (revised status) is reduced to the more homogeneous lineage containing the subtribes Algonina, Anisolinina, Philonthina, Philothalpina, Staphylinina and Xanthopygina. Morphological synapomorphies and diagnostic characters supporting all newly defined higher taxa are provided. This published work has been registered on ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DED8B042-83C9-4D10-B0CB-B50372B067A9 .