Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae)

A new genus, Saldanha, based on Melita machaera K.H. Barnard, 1955, is described from South Africa. Saldanha gen. nov. has the scale-like inner ramus of uropod 3 and the groups of small robust setae on urosomite 2, characteristic of Melita Leach and its satellite genera, but the mandibular palp is reduced, the inner plate of maxilla 1 is subtriangular in shape and lined with setae, both males and females have enlarged second gnathopods and the shape of gnathopod 2 propodus is atypical.

A diagnostic description is given for the genus and the species is re-described and illustrated.