ODONTOBUTHUS BREVIDIGITUS LOWE, 2010

(FIGS 1, 3–5, 16A, B, 20B, 21B, 22B, TABLES 1, 4, 5)

Odontobuthus brevidigitus Lowe, 2010: 2–15, figs 1–30, 37–38, 49–57, 60–65; Mirshamsi et al., 2013: 153, 169; Azghadi et al., 2014: 169, 175, 178.

Type material: Holotype ♂ (NHMB), OMAN: Batinah Plain, c. 4 km E of Seeb, 23°41.39′N 58°06.93′E, 0 m, 22.x.1993, G. Lowe & A. S. Gardner.

Diagnosis: Odontobuthus brevidigitus may be separated from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters. Scorpions of medium size, adults 50–65 mm (Fig. 16A, B). Colour golden yellow. Median ocular tubercle situated in anterior half of carapace, distance from anterior carapace margin, 0.34. Pedipalp chela movable finger short relative to manus (MFL/ML, 1.40–1.75). Median denticle rows of pedipalp chela fixed and movable fingers each comprising 10–12 oblique subrows of denticles. Pectinal tooth count, 29–36 (♂) and 20–25 (♀). Ventrosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments II and III each with two or three pairs of prominent tooth-like processes (Fig. 22B). Metasomal segment IV length to width (L/W), 1.67–1.96. Ventrolateral carinae of metasomal segment V with several prominent spiniform processes; anal arch with three lateral lobes; posteroventral margin of metasomal segment V with two large lobes. Telson small, narrow, length to width (TL/W), 1.86–2.40 and length to height (TL/H), 2.09– 2.40) (Figs 20B, 21B).

Distribution: Odontobuthus brevidigitus is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula and has only been recorded from Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Lowe, 2010).

Material examined: OMAN: Al Dakhiliyah Governate: Bahla Public Picnic Site, c. 3.5 km SW Bahla, 22°56′N 57°16′E, 533 m, 19–20.v.2017, L. Prendini & M. Roppo, arid savanna on alluvial floodplain near rocky hills, many large and smaller Acacia trees and spiny bushes on compact greyish alluvial silt, powdery with crust, somewhat degraded, specimens very common, mostly excavated during daytime from burrows, c. 30–50 cm deep in open ground and near bushes, others collected with UV light detection on warm, still, moonless night, many doorkeeping at burrow entrances, few collected sitting on ground surface, eight ♂♂, seven ♀♀ (AMNH), one juv. ♀ [AMCC (LP 14256)]. Al Wusta Governate: Wadi Rawnab, 18°49′N 56°24′E, 111 m, 15.v.2019, M. Stockmann, daytime excavation, one ♂ (ZMFUM). Muscat Governate: Bimma, 22°58′N 59°10′E, 7 m, iii.2017, M. Seiter & A. Ullrich, one juv. ♀ [AMCC (LP 15780)] .