Data from: Paleotropical diversification dominates the evolution of the hyperdiverse ant tribe Crematogastrini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Levels of diversity vary strikingly among different phylogenetic lineages
of ants. Rapid radiations in early ant evolution have often proven
difficult to resolve with traditional Sanger-sequencing data sets of
modest size. We provide a phylogenomic perspective on the evolution of the
hyperdiverse ant tribe Crematogastrini by analyzing sequence data for
nearly 1800 ultraconserved element (UCE) loci from 153 species comprising
56 genera. We reconstruct a next-to-complete genus-level phylogeny using
concatenated maximum-likelihood and species-tree approaches, estimate
divergence dates and diversification rates for the tribe, and investigate
the evolution of nest sites. Our results show ten well-supported major
clades which we define as the Cataulacus, Carebara, Vollenhovia,
Podomyrma, Crematogaster, Mayriella, Lordomyrma, Myrmecina, Paratopula,
and Formicoxenus genus-groups. These lineages are estimated to have arisen
from a Paleotropical ancestor (crown-group age ~75 Ma) over a relatively
short time interval (50–70 Ma). The Afrotropical and especially the
Indomalayan regions appear to have played a key role in the early
diversification history of the tribe. Several shifts in diversification
rates were found to be related to the evolution of large, widespread
genera; however, associating these shifts with evolutionary innovations or
events was not possible. Arboreal habitats have been successfully
colonized by only few clades within Crematogastrini from ground-nesting
ancestors, with no reversals supported. Our genus-level phylogeny for
Crematogastrini provides insights into the diversification and evolution
of one of the most diverse clades of ants, and our division of the tribe
into well-supported genus-group lineages sets the stage for more detailed
species-level investigations.