ABSTRACT. – The aim of this paper was to investigate geographic patterns of tenebrionid (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) endemicity on the Aegean Islands (Greece). These beetles are known to have an impressive non adaptive radiation on the Aegean Islands. Levels of endemism appeared poorly influenced by present geography or island shape, while past land configurations appeared to have a major role, as expected for flightless beetles, more affected by past vicariance events than by present dispersal. Extinction events observed in the study area exceeded largely those which a model based on the species-area relationship could predict even for a disproportionate amount of area (habitat) loss, possibly as a consequence of the particular relict condition of the Aegean fauna