Biotic components of dung beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Pantanal – Cerrado Border and its implications for Chaco regionalization

We use a panbiogeographical approach to determine the distribution pattern of dung beetles from a border region between Cerrado and Rondônia biogeographical provinces in Brazil. We constructed 54 individual tracks and 12 generalized tracks. The generalized tracks infer historical events that have happened in the past, highlighting the significant role of vicariant processes and their influence on the current distribution pattern of dung beetles from the Pantanal–Cerrado Border. The study region is a biogeographical node, including representatives from different biogeographic origins. Contrary to previous suggestions, the Scarabaeinae fauna of southern Rondônia province is not related to Amazonian fauna. Rather, it shows stronger connections with Chaco. Hence we suggest the inclusion of the southern part of the province of Rondônia, representing the Pantanal depression itself, as a new biogeographical district within Chaco province. © 2015 Taylor & Francis.