The systematics of a new endemic Australian genus of ant spiders Masasteron (Araneae : Zodariidae)

Abstract

A new Australian zodariid genus Masasteron, gen. nov. is proposed for 20 newly described and one known species belonging to the following seven species-groups: Masasteron mas-group: M. bennieae, sp. nov., M. bipunctatum, sp. nov., M. mas (Jocqué, 1991), M. ocellum, sp. nov., and M. queensland, sp. nov. Masasteron maini-group: M. maini, sp. nov., and M. tuart, sp. nov. Masasteron deserticola-group: M. clifton, sp. nov., M. deserticola, sp. nov., and M. derby, sp. nov. The remaining four species-groups form the M. complector-clade. Masasteron mackenziei-group: M. mackenziei, sp. nov., and M. sampeyae, sp. nov. Masasteron burbidgei-group: M. burbidgei, sp. nov. and M. haroldi, sp. nov. Masasteron darwin-group: M. barkly, sp. nov., M. darwin, sp. nov., and M. utae, sp. nov. Masasteron complector-group: M. complector, sp. nov., M. gracilis, sp. nov., M. piankai, sp. nov. and M. tealei, sp. nov. Most new species are described from specimens of both sexes, but M. bennieae, sp.  nov., M. tuart, sp. nov., M. derby, sp. nov., M. mackenziei, sp. nov., M. haroldi, sp. nov., M. darwin, sp. nov., M. utae, sp. nov. and M. gracilis, sp. nov. are known only from males. The possible relationships of the Masasteron species-groups are analysed with NONA and also reconstructed applying the original Hennigian method. The  results indicate that the genus Masasteron, gen. nov. is monophyletic, but closely related to Euasteron (Baehr, 2003a).

Additional keywords: Zodariidae, Masasteron, new species from Australia