Mecyclothorax

Mecyclothorax is a genus of beetles that contains over 400 described species or subspecies, mostly from the Hawaiian Islands, and Tahiti and Moorea, French Polynesia. Additional radiations have evolved in Queensland, Australia, New Guinea and New Caledonia. The genus has been divided into five subgenera: Eucyclothorax Liebherr 2018 of Australia, Qecyclothorax Liebherr 2018 of Queensland, Australia, Meonochilus Liebherr & Marris, 2009 of New Zealand, Phacothorax Jeannel 1944 of New Caledonia, and the more widely distributed subgenus Mecyclothorax Sharp 1903 [in Australia, the Sundas, New Zealand, the Society Islands (Moorea and Tahiti), and Hawaii]. The adelphotaxon to Mecyclothorax is hypothesized to consist of the genera associated with Amblytelus Blackburn, also distributed in Australia, and therefore the evolutionary history of Mecyclothorax commenced in Australia.