Late-miocene-origin
Guides
Xylophanes
Xylophanes is a genus of hawkmoths (Sphingidae) containing over 120 described species, making it the most taxonomically diverse genus in the family. The genus originated in Caribbean-Mesoamerica during the Late Miocene and subsequently diversified across Neotropical bioregions through a two-phase pattern involving high speciation rates in the Andes and Caribbean-Mesoamerica followed by dispersal to Amazonia. Members are strong fliers with high dispersal ability and function as pollinators in their ecosystems.