The metasoma consists of five segments, that are in contrast to the mesosoma not covered by tergites and sternites, but by closed exosceletal rings. The segments can show different keels of granules and are therefore of taxonomical importance (Polis, 1990, p15). Some Androctonus ssp. and Parabuthus spp. have severely granulated dorsal surfaces on metasomal segments 1 and 2 which serve as stridulatory organs, with the help of which scraping or buzzing sounds can be created by rubbing the telson over it (Pocock, 1902, 1904; Millot & Vachon, 1949; Kästner, 1968; Newlands, 1974). The distal end of the fifth mesosomal segment comprises the anus, followed by the telson, that has been converted to a stinger.
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