Chloroherpeton thalassium gen. nov. et spec. nov., a non-filamentous, flexing and gliding green sulfur bacterium.

A flexing and gliding green sulfur bacterium has been isolated from marine sources off the North East coast of the USA. Chloroherpeton thalassium is an obligate phototroph, and requires CO2 and S2 for growth; some organic acids can contribute to cell carbon, and N2 may be fixed. The cells contain typical chlorosomes, and gas vesicles may be present. Bacteriochlorophyll c is the main light harvesting pigment, and a small quantity of bacteriochlorophyll a is also present. Over 80% of the carotenoid is gamma-carotene. DNA base composition of the isolates ranges from 45.0-48.2 mol% G + C.