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The subfamily Saprininae is a group of moderately large histerid beetles that exhibits remarkable morphological and biological diversity. Although all species are predaceous, feeding on larvae of flies and other arthropods, numerous ecologically diverse lineages appeared during the evolution of the group, including taxa adapted for life in sand. These psammophiles conquered the Earth's arid and sandy desert regions. They are endowed with profound morphological adaptations, and the beginning of their radiation largely coincides with the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, which constituted the peak of the long-term early Cenozoic global warming. Earth's temperature during that time was believed to be globally similar to 8 degrees C warmer than it is today, and the aridification played an important role in the desertification of the planet. Here, we present the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Saprininae to date, based on 115 taxa of 37 (sub) genera, which represent all major Saprininae genera. Our analyses resulted in a well-resolved phylogeny of the group, partly congruent with earlier phylogenetic hypotheses. We find support for the monophyly of the Saprininae and four major clades within it. Ultra-psammophily has evolved at least three times independently, with convergent morphological features arising in different desert regions, as a response to similar selective pressures.