The Melbu were a sentient species that existed in the galaxy. They were distinguished by their respirator horns, which were connected to a breathing mask worn on the mouth. They also had reddish-brown skin and orange eyes.
Melbu could be found on various planets throughout the galaxy, including Nar Shaddaa and Tatooine.
During the Imperial Era, Auromae Iselo, a member of the species, operated as a bounty hunter and later joined the Cloud-Riders and assisted the group in various missions in opposition to the Galactic Empire.
Wef, another member of the species, operated as an arms dealer during the Imperial Era. The arms dealer supplied several clients, including the Hidden Hand criminal syndicate, and the cyborg bounty hunter Beilert Valance's team.
By the time of the New Republic Era, a Melbu bounty hunter joined the Bounty Hunters' Guild. During a mission with the Guild, the Melbu lost their life in a skirmish with the Mandalorian Din Djarin.
The Melbu species made their debut in the 2018 Star Wars Anthology Series film Solo: A Star Wars Story, directed by Ron Howard. The species' design originated from a drawing by the artist Jake Lunt Davies' daughter. While interpreting her sketch, Davies decided that the horns would be part of the respiratory system consisting of tubes connecting to the mouth.
For the texture of the species' skin, he used squashes and gherkins as inspiration, while the eyes were based off the appearances of amber and other precious stones. The overall color scheme was intentionally chosen in order to be reminiscent of aliens featured on 1950s science fiction covers.