Reclassification of Aurantimonas altamirensis (Jurado et al. 2006), Aurantimonas ureilytica (Weon et al. 2007) and Aurantimonas frigidaquae (Kim et al. 2008) as members of a new genus, Aureimonas gen. nov., as Aureimonas altamirensis gen. nov., comb. nov., Aureimonas ureilytica comb. nov. and Aureimonas frigidaquae comb. nov., and emended descriptions of the genera Aurantimonas and Fulvimarina.

Members of the genera Aurantimonas and Fulvimarina have largely been described on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, biochemical tests and limited chemotaxonomic data. Examination of the polar lipid compositions of members of these two genera indicated that although the patterns were similar with regards the phospholipid and amino lipid compositions, there were clear differences in the presence or absence of the glycolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). This glycolipid was absent in members of the species Aurantimonas coralicida and Fulvimarina pelagi but was present in Aurantimonas altamirensis, Aurantimonas ureilytica and Aurantimonas frigidaquae. These results are also consistent with the 16S rRNA sequence-based grouping. We therefore propose that the genus Aurantimonas be divided further to reflect this additional information. Thus, it is recommended that Aurantimonas altamirensis, Aurantimonas ureilytica and Aurantimonas frigidaquae are transferred to a new genus, Aureimonas gen. nov., as Aureimonas altamirensis gen. nov., comb. nov. (type strain S21B(T) = CECT 7138(T) = CIP 109525(T) = KCTC 22106(T) = LMG 23375(T) = DSM 21988(T)), Aureimonas ureilytica comb. nov. (type strain 5715S-12(T) = KACC 11607(T) = DSM 18598(T) = CIP 109815(T)) and Aureimonas frigidaquae comb. nov. (type strain CW5(T) = KCTC 12893(T) = JCM 14755(T) = DSM 21987(T)). The type species of the new genus is Aureimonas altamirensis. Additionally, emended descriptions of the genera Aurantimonas and Fulvimarina are provided.