Cette thèse traite de l’évolution, de l’adaptation et de la spéciation en milieu souterrain, en utilisant le genre Anthroherpon comme modèle. Ce genre appartient à la tribu des Leptodirini (Leiodidae Cholevinae), un groupe qui a connu une remarquable diversification dans le domaine souterrain. Toutes ses espèces ont développé des modifications troglomorphiques spectaculaires: anophthamie, aptérisme, élongation extrême des appendices, de la tête et du pronotum, et physogastrie. Pour comprendre l’histoire évolutive du groupe, ces adaptations troglomorphiques ont été replacées dans un cadre phylogénétique. La thèse est une analyse de la radiation évolutive des Anthroherpon, dans le cadre d’une phylogénie moléculaire datée, qui a permis de mieux comprendre les modalités de diversification du genre, de reconstruire son aire de distribution ancestrale, d’explorer la diversité des évolutions troglomorphiques en son sein et de proposer une nouvelle structure taxonomique du groupe. / The PhD research project focus on the study of evolution, adaptation, and speciation in the subterranean environment using troglobitic Coleoptera of the genus Anthroherpon as a model. Genus Anthroherpon belongs to the tribe Leptodirini (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae), a group that has undergone extensive diversification in the subterranean environment. All species of this genus have developed typical troglomorphic modifications: complete anophthalmy, apterism, extreme elongation of appendages, head, and pronotum, and physogastric elytra. To understand the evolutionary history of this group, the troglomorphic adaptations need to be studied in a phylogenetic framework. The thesis provide a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the Anthroherpon radiation, using a dated molecular phylogeny as framework for understanding Anthroherpon diversification, reconstructing the ancestral range, and exploring troglomorphic diversity. In light of these findings, a new taxonomical organisation of the group has been proposed.

<p>The PhD research project focus on the study of evolution, adaptation, and speciation in<br />the subterranean environment using troglobitic Coleoptera of the genus Anthroherpon<br />as a model organism. Genus Anthroherpon belongs to the tribe Leptodirini (Coleoptera:<br />Leiodidae: Cholevinae), a group that has undergone extensive diversification in the<br />subterranean environment. All species of this genus have developed typical<br />troglomorphic modifications: complete anophthalmy, apterism, extreme elongation of<br />appendages, head, and pronotum, and physogastric elytra. To understand the<br />evolutionary history of this group, the troglomorphic adaptations need to be studied in<br />a phylogenetic framework. The thesis provide a comprehensive evolutionary analysis<br />of the Anthroherpon radiation, using a dated molecular phylogeny as a framework for<br />understanding Anthroherpon diversification, reconstructing the ancestral range, and<br />exploring troglomorphic diversity. In light of these findings, a new taxonomical<br />organisation of the group has been proposed.</p> / <p>Doktorska disertacija predstavlja studiju evolucije, adaptacije i specijacije u<br />podzemnim stani&scaron;tima troglobiontnih tvrdokrilaca roda <em>Anthroherpon</em>. Pomenuti rod<br />pripada tribusu Leptodirini (Leiodidae, Cholevinae), grupi koja je pro&scaron;la intenzivnu<br />diverzifikaciju u uslovima podzemnih stani&scaron;ta. Sve vrste pomenutog roda poseduju<br />tipične troglomorfne osobine, kao &scaron;to su: anoftalmija, apterizam, ekstremno izduženi<br />telesni nastavci, glava i pronotum, i fizogastrija. Radi razumevanja evolucione istorije<br />grupe, troglomorfne adaptacije su studirane u filogenetskom kontekstu. U analizi<br />evolutivne radijacije roda <em>Anthroherpon</em> kori&scaron;ćena je datirana molekularna filogenija<br />kao okvir za razumevanje diverzifikacije roda, evolucije troglomorfnih karaktera i<br />rekonstrukciju predačkog areala. U svetlu novih nalaza predložena je nova<br />taksonomska organizacija grupe.</p>