Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Symbrenthia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) correlates with the past geography of the Oriental region

Jesters, butterflies in the genus Symbrenthia Hübner, 1819, comprise 14 species mainly distributed in the Oriental region. Although this genus has attracted the attention of many researchers in the past, its taxonomy and biogeographic history remain unclear. In this study, we investigate phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships inferred from one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear genes (ArgKin, wingless), using both likelihood and Bayesian approaches. With the exception of S. hippalus, which we find to be either sister to Mynes Boisduval, 1832 or sister to Symbrenthia + Mynes + Araschnia, all species of Symbrenthia form a single monophyletic group. We describe a new genus Mynbrenthia Fric & Rindos gen. nov. to accommodate the taxon hippalus. The genus Symbrenthia splits into four sub-groups, “Brensymthia” (with S. niphanda and S. sinoides), “hypselis” (with S. hypselis, S. brabira, S. leoparda and S. doni), “intricata” (with S. intricata and S. hypatia) and “hippoclus” group (including S. platena and a complex of S. hippoclus and S. lilaea). The genus probably originated in Sundaland or continental Asia during the Eocene. The history of the genus Symbrenthia was more influenced by dispersal events and then by subsequent vicariances. Whereas the “hypselis” group colonised the Indo-Australian Archipelago from the Asian continent, the “hippoclus” group dispersed to continental Asia from the Indo-Australian Archipelago.