taxonID	type	description	language	source
7742507CFFABFFD4FF3A7025139F1237.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: B 6901 D 89 - 1938 - 49 CD- 9697 - 6 FBBA 80828 F 8	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD4FF3A7025139F1237.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Melita machaera K. H. Barnard, 1955, original designation.	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD4FF3A7025139F1237.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named for Saldanha Bay, a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa.	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD4FF3A7025139F1237.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Head. Head eyes well developed; lateral cephalic lobe broad, rounded; with anteroventral notch. Mandible palp reduced, thin, weak, 3 - articulate, article 3 rectilinear. Maxilla 1 inner plate subtriangular, setose to about halfway along inner margin. Maxilla 2 inner plate with submarginal and marginal setal rows on inner face. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; coxa with anteroventral corner produced, rounded, anterior margin concave. Gnathopod 2 left and right gnathopods subequal in size; sexually dimorphic; significantly enlarged in male and female; propodus palm nearly transverse in male and female; dactylus closing along palm. Pereopod 4 coxa posteroventral lobe well developed with rounded corner. Pereopod 6 coxa slightly sexually dimorphic. Pleonites 1 – 2 dorsally smooth. Pleonite 3 with dorsal spine. Urosomite 1 with 1 dorsal spine. Urosomite 2 with 1 dorsolateral spine and 1 dorsolateral robust seta on each side. Uropod 3 inner ramus scale-like; outer ramus much longer than peduncle, 2 - articulate, second article short. Telson deeply cleft, with subapical robust setae, without robust setae on inner and outer margins.	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD4FF3A7025139F1237.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Although superficially similar to Melita, Saldanha gen. nov. is excluded from Melita by the reduced mandibular palp, triangular inner plate of maxilla 1 having setae along most of the inner margin, by the submarginal setal row on the inner plate of maxilla 2, by the enlarged gnathopod 2 of both males and females and by the dorsal spine on pleonite 3. Saldanha, differs from Abludomelita Karaman, 1981, in the reduced mandibular palp (well developed in Abludomelita), maxilla 2 inner plate submarginal setal row (oblique setal row in Abludomelita), gnathopod 2 significantly enlarged in male and female (enlarged in male, not in female in Abludomelita), urosomite 2 without dorsal midline spine (with dorsal midline spine in Abludomelita) and telson with robust setae on outer margin (without robust setae on outer margin in Abludomelita). Saldanha is similar to Dentimelita Paz Rios & Pech, 2022, and Liuomelita Yanrong et al., 2021, in maxilla 1 which has similar inner plate shape and setation and in the reduced mandibular palp, but differs in head shape, setation of maxilla 2, shape of coxa 1, armature of pleonites 1 – 3 and urosomite 1, and smooth posterior and ventral margins of epimeron 3. There are 12 melitid genera with a reduced mandibular palp (Barnardomelita Labay, 2016; Brachina Barnard & Williams, 1995; Dentimelita Paz Rios & Pech, 2022; Galapsiellus J. L. Barnard, 1976; Josephosella Ruffo, 1985; Ledoyeromelita Labay, 2016; Liuomelita Yanrong et al., 2021; Nainaloa Karaman & Barnard, 1979; Paraniphargus Tattersall, 1925; Rotomelita J. L. Barnard, 1977 and Tegano Barnard & Karaman, 1982). Saldanha differs from all these genera as follows: maxilla 1 inner plate subrectangular or subovate with mainly apical setae (triangular and setose along inner margin in Saldanha), maxilla 2 inner plate submarginal setal row absent (present in Saldanha) and the form of gnathopod 2 propodus (palm transverse and sculptured in Saldanha; not of this form in other genera).	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD3FF3A775915B3116B.taxon	description	(Figs 1 – 4)	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD3FF3A775915B3116B.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Lectotype, male, 14.1 mm, SAM A 43347, False Bay, South Africa, ca 34 ° 13.7 ′ S 18 ° 38.7 ′ E, coll. University of Cape Town, November 1953 - September 1954. Paralectotypes: 1 ovigerous female, 14.4 mm, 1 male, 11 mm, 1 juvenile, SAM A 10312, same data as lectotype. Other material examined. Eight specimens, SAM A 18988, Oatland Point, False Bay, South Africa, ca 34 ° 13.7 ′ S 18 ° 38.7 ′ E, station FAL 259 F, 21 November 1953. Type locality. Valsbaai (originally cited as False Bay), South Africa ca 34 ° 13.7 ′ S 18 ° 38.7 ′ E.	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD3FF3A775915B3116B.taxon	description	Description. Based on lectotype, male, 14.1 mm, SAM A 43347. Head. Head eyes well developed, ommatidia compacted, ovate, lateral cephalic lobe broad, rounded, anteroventral margin with notch, anteroventral corner rounded. Antenna 1 longer than Antenna 2; peduncular article 1 with 3 robust setae along posterior margin, longer than article 2; peduncular article 2 longer than article 3; accessory flagellum with 5 articles; flagellum with about 28 articles. Antenna 2 peduncular article 2 gland cone not reaching to end of peduncular article 3; article 4 subequal to article 5; flagellum with about 12 articles. Upper lip unknown. Mandible molar medium size, triturative; palp reduced, thin, weak, 3 - articulate; article 1 about as long as broad, shorter than article 2, inner margin not produced distally; article 2 longer than article 3, with a few facial setae; article 3 rectilinear, longer than article 1, with apical setae only. Lower lip inner lobes present. Maxilla 1 inner plate subtriangular, setose to about halfway along inner margin; outer plate with 9 apical robust setae; palp 2 - articulate, article 2 with apical robust and simple setae. Maxilla 2 inner plate with submarginal setal row, without oblique setal row on inner face, with marginal setal row; outer plate slightly longer than inner plate. Pereon. Gnathopod 1 smaller than gnathopod 2, not sexually dimorphic; coxa anteroventral corner produced, rounded, anterior margin concave, posteroventral corner notch absent; carpus about twice as long as broad, subequal in length to propodus, length about 1.1 times propodus; propodus without hump along anterior margin, palm acute, convex, without anterodistal projection near base of dactylus, defined by posterodistal corner, without anterodistal projection, posterodistal margin not swollen, with posterodistal robust seta; dactylus articulating distinctly with propodus, posterior margin not swollen at base. Gnathopod 2 left and right gnathopods subequal in size; significantly enlarged in male and female; slightly sexually dimorphic; coxa subrectangular, with posteroventral corner notch; merus with subquadrate distoventral corner; carpus compressed; propodus without medial depression, without medial pad; propodus palm nearly transverse with well-defined corner, sinusoidal, sculptured, with sparse robust setae, with at least 2 large swellings or teeth along margin, defined by posteroventral tooth, with posterodistal socket, without posterodistal robust setae; dactylus without setae on anterior margin, closing along palm, apically blunt. Pereopods 3 – 7 dactylar ungues simple. Pereopods 5 – 7 basis posterior margin minutely castelloserrate. Pereopods 5 – 7 basis, merus, carpus and propodus without bunches of long slender setae, with robust setae. Pereopod 3 coxa subrectangular, subequal in length to coxa of pereopod 2. Pereopod 4 coxa posteroventral lobe well developed with rounded corner. Pereopod 5 coxa bilobate; basis expanded, posterior margin convex, posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Pereopod 6 coxa slightly sexually dimorphic, anterior lobe ventral margin slightly produced, broadly rounded; basis posterior margin convex, posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Pereopod 7 basis posterior margin convex, castelloserrate, posterodistal corner produced, broadly rounded. Pleon. Pleonite / urosomite dorsal spine formula: 0 0 1 1 2. Pleonites 1 – 3 without dorsal setae, Pleonite 3 with dorsal midline spine. Epimera 1 – 3 posterior margin without spines above posteroventral corner, ventral margin smooth. Epimeron 1 posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Epimeron 2 posteroventral corner narrowly rounded or subquadrate. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner subquadrate. Urosomite 1 with dorsal midline spine. Urosomite 2 posterior margin without dorsal midline spine, with 1 dorsolateral spine and 1 dorsolateral robust seta on each side. Uropod 1 peduncle with basofacial robust seta. Uropod 3 inner ramus scale-like, much shorter than outer ramus; outer ramus very long, 7.8 times breadth, 2.4 times longer than peduncle, 2 - articulate, article 2 short. Telson cleft, as long as broad, tapering distally, lobes apically acute or subacute, without robust setae on outer margins, each lobe with 2 dorsal robust setae, with 3 or more apical / subapical robust setae, without robust setae on inner margins, apical conical extension absent. Female (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paralectotype, female (ovigerous), 14.4 mm, SAM A 10312. Gnathopod 2 merus with acute distoventral corner; palm acute with well-defined corner, minutely crenulate, lined with robust setae, with 1 large tooth about midway along margin, serrate along margin, with posterodistal robust setae; dactylus with 5 or more simple setae on anterior margin, apically acute / subacute. Pereopod 6 coxa anterior lobe ventral margin slightly produced, narrowly rounded.	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD3FF3A775915B3116B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Saldanha machaera (KH Barnard, 1955) was originally described from Valsbaai (originally cited as False Bay), South Africa. Only the head, first and second gnathopods, urosome and telson were illustrated. There was no mention of mouthparts in the original description, leading to the difficulty in generic placement (Karaman, 1981; Labay, 2016). The redescription and re-illustration of Saldanha machaera brings the species into a modern context.	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD3FF3A775915B3116B.taxon	biology_ecology	Habitat. Marine.	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
7742507CFFABFFD3FF3A775915B3116B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. South Africa: Valsbaai (False Bay) (K. H. Barnard, 1955); southern coast, South Africa (Griffiths, 1974); Plettenberg Bay to Saldanha Bay (Griffiths, 1975).	en	Springthorpe, R. T., Lowry, J. K. (2025): Saldanha, a new genus of melitid amphipod from South Africa (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Melitidae). Zootaxa 5620 (2): 389-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.11
