Historical biogeography of Staphylinini rove beetles of New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

As a strongly isolated micro-continent, New Zealand is one of the most challenging systems for biogeographic studies. As a result of recent phylogenetic and taxonomic research, one of the largest animal tribes, the rove beetles of Staphylinini, is now available as a model group to address some big questions about New Zealand biogeography. A species-level revision of the New Zealand Staphylinini made it clear that this fauna is comprised of three biogeographic elements: 1) the paleoendemic taxa descended from lineages widespread across Gondwanian continents while the latter were still connected; 2) the neoendemic taxa stemming from lineages of non-Gondwanian origin, all more or less associated with seashore habitats; and 3) adventive species mostly of Palearctic origin. This faunal composition is incongruent with the hypothesis of a complete submergence of Zealandia in the Oligocene, which assumes de novo formation of the terrestrial fauna from overseas dispersals. Instead, the presumed antiquity of New Zealand paleoendemics, and the notable proportion of younger, dispersal-based neoendemics indicate a longer and more complex formation of the New Zealand terrestrial biota.