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

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