Biogeographical Regionalisation of Southern Africa Using Tenebrionid Beetles: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Diversity and Environmental Drivers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim Southern Africa's remarkable environmental heterogeneity drives high biodiversity and endemism, yet biogeographical regionalisations often overlook invertebrates despite their ecological significance. This study presents a comprehensive regionalisation of southern Africa using tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a diverse and aridity‐adapted group, to delineate biogeographical units and assess environmental factors. Location Southern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. Taxon Family Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera). Methods Utilising 8254 genus‐level occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), we applied cluster analysis (UPGMA with Jaccard index) at one‐degree grid and ecoregion scales to identify statistically distinct assemblages. Results The analyses revealed 26 biogeographical clusters at the one‐degree scale and 13 at the ecoregion scale, driven by gradients in precipitation, temperature, topography and vegetation. The Cape Floristic Region and Succulent Karoo emerged as key diversity hotspots, while the arid Namib and Kalahari showed low richness but high endemism. Characteristic genera highlighted taxonomic distinctiveness, with transitional zones indicated through significant assemblage overlaps. Main Conclusions These findings refine existing ecoregion frameworks, underscore the role of aridity and substrate in shaping invertebrate distributions and support conservation planning by identifying critical biodiversity areas. This invertebrate‐focused approach enhances biogeographical theory and moves toward scalable models for more inclusive biodiversity assessments.