Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Carabid Ground Beetles
Edited by S Osawa, Z H Su and Y Imura
Springer
2004
Hardcover XII + 204 pp. ISBN 4431004874
£115.00
Carabid ground beetles, sometimes called "walking jewels", are among the most thoroughly
investigated insects in the world. This book presents the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses
of 2000 specimens, including 350 species and that cover more than 90% of the known genera, from 500
localities in 35 countries. These comprehensive analyses using mitochondrial DNA-based dating suggest that
carabid diversification took place about 40 to 50 million years ago as an explosive radiation of the major genera,
coinciding with the collision of the Indian subcontinent and Eurasian land mass. The analyses also lead to surprising
conclusions suggesting discontinuous evolution and parallel morphological evolution. With numerous color illustrations,
this book presents readers with the dynamic principles of evolution and the magnificent geographic history
of the earth as revealed by the study of beetles.
