Onthophagus (Onthophagus) falsus Gillet, 1925

[Fig. 16]

Literature quotes. None.

Material examined. SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh Province, Al-Wasiel, 19.xi. 205, SW on Alfalfa, M. Ur Rehman leg. 1 ♂ (KSMA) ; Wadi Al Dawaser, Al Muhmmadiya Farm, 700 m (2025.497′N 4443.563′E), 9.v.2018, H. Al Dhafer et al. leg. 2 ♂♂ (KSMA) ; Wadi Hanifa, 14.xi.2015, HP in date palm, E.M. Khan leg. 2 ♂♂ (KSMA) .

Distribution. Asia: Afghanistan (Balthasar 1963), central and northern India (Arrow 1931; Mittal & Jain 2015), south-western India (Sabu et al., 2011; Venugopal et al., 2012); Pakistan (Arrow 1931).

Remarks. First record for the Arabian Peninsula, notably Saudi Arabia . The taxon was placed in the subgenus Gibbonthophagus Balathasar, 1935 by Kabakov (2006), then in Onthophagus species incertae sedis by Ziani & Bezděk (2016). We have herein inserted O. falsus in the nominotypical subgenus because, in our opinion, the species is phylogenetically more closely related to Onthophagus taurus (Schreber, 1759), the type species of the subgenus, than to any type species of any other genus or subgenus of Onthophagini . Paramera apex and lamella copulatrix support this placement.