Actinomycete strain SA198^T, isolated from a Saharan soil sample of Algeria, was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. Chemotaxonomic and morphological characteristics observed suggested that it was a member of the genus Saccharothrix . The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed that strain SA198^T was a member of the genus Saccharothrix and showed a similarity level ranging between 97.5 and 98.9 % within species of the genus Saccharothrix , Saccharothrix australiensis being the most closely related. However, DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain SA198^T and its closest phylogenetic neighbours, the type strains of S. australiensis , Saccharothrix xinjiangensis , Saccharothrix algeriensis and Saccharothrix espanaensis , were clearly below the 70 % threshold. Based upon genotypic and phenotypic differences from other members of the genus, a novel species, Saccharothrix tamanrassetensis sp. nov., is proposed, with SA198^T ( = DSM 45947^T = CECT 8640^T) as the type strain.