| Aurantimonadaceae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Proteobacteria |
| Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Rhizobiales |
| Family: | Aurantimonadaceae Denner et al. 2003 |
| Genera and Species[1] | |
|
Aurantimonas
Fulvimarina
Martelella
|
|
The Aurantimonadaceae are a small family of marine bacteria. There are three known species. Aurantimonas coralicida causes a white plague in corals, progressively destroying their tissues and leaving an expanding area that appears bleached. It has been epidemic in the Caribbean. The individual bacteria are rod-shaped, with polar flagella, and adhere to form branching chains.[2] Fulvimarina pelagi was isolated from seawater, and takes the form of non-motile rods.[3]
Both species are obligate aerobes, and obtain their nourishment chemoheterotrophically. They test positive for oxidase and catalase, and contain carotenoid pigments, possibly to protect against solar radiation.
The name Aurantimonas derives from:
New Latin adjective aurantus, orange-coloured; Greek feminine gender noun monas (μονάς / μονάδα), a unit; New Latin feminine gender noun Aurantimonas, orange-coloured unicellular organism.[4]
Members of the genus Aurantimonas can be referred to as aurantimonads (viz. Trivialisation of names).