Neobuthus, Hirst, 1911

Key to the species of Neobuthus View in CoL

1. Pedipalps with numerous macrosetae ( Figs. 145–147 View Figures 144–159 ). 2

– Pedipalps verY sparselY setose, or devoid of macrosetae ( Fig. 144 View Figures 144–159 ). ......................................................................... N. berberensis Hirst, 1911 View in CoL (population from sandY area)

2. Pedipalp chela movable and fixed finger with 4–6 subrows of primarY denticles. If movable finger has onlY 4 subrows, there are 3–4 external accessorY denticles.. 3

– Pedipalp chela movable finger with 4 complete subrows of primarY denticles and 5 external accessorY denticles; fixed finger with 3 subrows of primarY denticles ( Fig. 142 View Figures 132–143 ). ........................................................ N. verae sp. n.

3. Metasomal macrosetae moderatelY short in male, not verY spiniform ( Fig. 154 View Figures 144–159 ). ..................................................... 4

– Metasomal macrosetae verY short in male, stout and spiniform ( Fig. 153 View Figures 144–159 ). ................................................... 13

4. Tarsi denselY hirsute, adults 24–37 ventral macrosetae on telotarsus III ( Fig. 148 View Figures 144–159 ). ................................................... ................................. N. kutcheri Lowe & KovařÍk, 2016 View in CoL

– Tarsi not denselY hirsute; adults with 9–21 ventral macrosetae on telotarsus III ( Fig. 149 View Figures 144–159 ). ........................ 5

5. Pedipalp patella narrow, L/W ratio 2.72–2.81 in both sexes ( Fig. 145 View Figures 144–159 ); marginal tips of pectines extend to a quarter of sternite VI in males. ......................................... .................................... N. maidensis KovařÍk et al., 2018 View in CoL

– Pedipalp patella narrow, L/W ratio 2.10–2.70 in both sexes ( Fig. 146 View Figures 144–159 ); marginal tips of pectines extend to before half of sternite V in males. ................................................... 6

6. Female metasoma I–III with dorsal carinae absent ( Fig. 150 View Figures 144–159 ). .............................................................................. 7

– Female metasoma I–III with dorsal carinae present ( Fig. 151 View Figures 144–159 ). .............................................................................. 9

7. Pedipalps of female Yellow with black spots developed or indicated; pedipalp femur L/ W 2.18 –2.34 in males. ..... 8

– Pedipalps of female Yellow without black spots; pedipalp femur L/ W 2.45 –2.61 in males. ....................................... ................................ N. erigavoensis KovařÍk et al., 2018 View in CoL

8. Dorsoexternal carina on pedipalp patella in female present ( Fig. 146 View Figures 144–159 ). .................. N. montanus KovařÍk et al., 2018 View in CoL

– Dorsoexternal carinae on pedipalp patella in female absent ( Fig. 22 View Figures 17–24 ). ....................................... N. dhobo sp. n.

9. Dorsoexternal smooth carinae on pedipalp patella in female well developed ( Fig. 146 View Figures 144–159 ). ............................... 10

– Dorsoexternal carinae on pedipalp patella in female absent or onlY weaklY indicated ( Fig. 147 View Figures 144–159 ). ................ 11

10. Sternite III with ca 25 macrosetae (fig. 10 in KovařÍk et al., 2018: 7). ............ N. amoudensis KovařÍk et al., 2018 View in CoL

– Sternite III with lesser than 10 macrosetae (fig. 86 in KovařÍk & Lowe, 2012: 19). ............................................ ............................ N. awashensis KovařÍk & Lowe, 2012 View in CoL

11. Sternites III–VI smooth mediallY in males ( Figs.138 View Figures 132–143 , 158 View Figures 144–159 ). ............................................................................ 12

– Sternites III–VI with dense, fine granulation in males (Figs. 218, 159). ...... N. gubanensis KovařÍk et al., 2018 View in CoL

12. Male with LW ratio femur 2.74–2.86, patella 2.50–2.62, chela 4.68–4.98. ............. N. fryntai KovařÍk et al., 2023 View in CoL

– Male with LW ratio femur 2.42–2.70, patella 2.18–2.28, chela 4.25–4.48. ........... N. factorio KovařÍk et al., 2018 View in CoL

13. Female pedipalp femur more elongate, L/ W 2.42 –2.47. .. ...................................................................................... 14

– Female pedipalp femur more stout, L/ W 2.10 –2.36. .. 16

14. Metasomal segments more elongate, metasoma IV L/D> 1.7, V L/D> 2.35. ............................................................ ............................ N. eritreaensis Lowe & KovařÍk, 2016 View in CoL

– Metasomal segments more stout, metasoma IV L/D <1.7, V L/D <2.35. .............................................................. 15

15. Lateral surfaces of metasoma I–IV denselY granulated in male and smooth in female. Metasoma I–III with median lateral carinae present in female, absent in male. ............. .................................... N. ferrugineus (Kraepelin, 1898) View in CoL

– Lateral surfaces of metasoma I–IV denselY granulated in both sexes. Metasoma I–III with median lateral carinae absent in both sexes ( Figs. 94 and 97 View Figures 92–99 ). .... N. osoli sp. n.

16. Female metasoma I–III dorsallY granulated ( Fig. 152 View Figures 144–159 ). ... ...................................................................................... 17

– Female metasoma I–III dorsallY smooth ( Fig. 150 View Figures 144–159 ). ........ .......................... N. cloudsleythompsoni Lourenço, 2001 View in CoL

17. Metasoma I–III with median lateral carinae absent in female ( Fig. 157 View Figures 144–159 ). ....... N. kloppersi KovařÍk et al., 2018 View in CoL

– Metasoma I–III with median lateral carinae present in female ( Fig. 156 View Figures 144–159 ). ........................................................ 18

18 Male with sternite VII finelY granulated with 4, granulated carinae. ................................ N. solegladi KovařÍk, 2019 View in CoL

– Male with sternite VII stronglY granulated without carinae. ............................................................................. N. berberensis Hirst, 1911 View in CoL (population from a rockY area)