The new zodariid genus Suffascar, gen. nov. is described from Madagascar. It is apparently endemic to the island, common and speciose. Twelve new species were discovered and are here described: Suffascar albolineatus, sp. nov., S. fianara, sp. nov., S. fisheri, sp. nov., S. fitzpatrickae, sp. nov., S. gigas, sp. nov., S. griswoldi, sp. nov., S. macromma, sp. nov., S. micromma, sp. nov., S. nonus, sp. nov., S. scutatus, sp. nov., S. sufficiens, sp. nov. and S. tofti, sp. nov. It is well known that Zodariidae with femoral organs are specialised consumers of ants or termites, although the exact role of these glands still remains obscure. Suffascar is part of the ‘dual femoral organ clade’ (DF), which also includes Asceua Thorell, 1887, Suffasia Jocqué, 1991, and Suffrica Henrard & Jocqué, 2015. Using a morphology-based phylogenetic analysis, we test whether zodariids sharing the dual femoral organ are part of the same group as the ‘single femoral organ clade’ (SF) or form a separate monophyletic group. It appears that SF and DF constitute clearly monophyletic entities with a sister-group relation. These groups may be considered as distinct subfamilies and, together, they may turn out to be sister to the Storeninae (which then could be re-established). An analysis that focuses on these questions is underway. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:281E1357-FAEE-4300-B1BB-F0D43E724E91
Trophic strategy of ant-eating Mexcala elegans (Araneae: Salticidae): looking for evidence of evolution of prey-specialization
