Name: Methanobacterium formicicum Schnellen 1947 (Approved Lists 1980)

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: N.L. neut. n. acidum formicum, formic acid; Gr. neut. adj. suff. -icum, suffix used with the sense of pertaining to; N.L. neut. adj. formicicum, pertaining to formic acid

Gender: neuter

Type strains: ATCC 33274; DSM 1535; JCM 10132; MF; NBRC 100475; OCM 55; VKM B-1957

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: AF169245 Analyse FASTA

Original publication: Schnellen CGTP. Onderzoekingen over de methaangisting. Thesis Technical University Delft. De Maasstad, Rotterdam, 1947.

IJSEM list: Skerman VBD, McGowan V, Sneath PHA. Approved lists of bacterial names. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1980; 30:225-420.

Nomenclatural status: validly published

Taxonomic status: correct name

Risk group: 1

• Emendations:
  • Judicial Commission 1992 . JUDICIAL OPINION 64: Designation of strain MF (DSM 1535) in place of strain M. o. H. (DSM 863) as the type strain of Methanobacterium formicicum Schnellen 1947, and designation of strain M. o. H. (DSM 863) as the type strain of Methanobacterium bryantii (Balch and Wolfe in Balch, Fox, Magrum, Woese, and Wolfe 1979, 284) Boone 1987, 173. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1992; 42:654.
    Notes:
    • This emendation was not found in the expected IJSEM notification list.
    • Methanobacterium formicicum Schnellen 1947 (Approved Lists 1980) and Methanobacterium bryantii Balch and Wolfe 1981 were inadvertently assigned the same type strain (M.o.H. = DSM 863) and Methanobacterium formicicum has priority. Methanobacterium formicicum is therefore an earlier homotypic synonym of Methanobacterium bryantii. Boone requests an opinion rejecting the type strain Methanobacterium formicicum DSM 863, replacing it with a neotype strain MF = DSM 1535, and reinstatement of Methanobacterium bryantii with strain M.o.H. = DSM 863 as the holotype strain (see: Methanobacterium bryantii).
    • Methanobacterium formicicum Schnellen 1947 (Approved Lists 1980) and Methanobacterium bryantii Balch and Wolfe 1981 were inadvertently assigned the same type strain (M.o.H. DSM 863) and Methanobacterium formicicum has priority. Methanobacterium formicicum is therefore an earlier homotypic synonym of Methanobacterium bryantii. Boone requests an opinion rejecting the type strain Methanobacterium formicicum DSM 863, replacing it with a neotype strain MF DSM 1535, and reinstatement of Methanobacterium bryantii with strain M.o.H. DSM 863 as the holotype strain (see: Methanobacterium bryantii).

• Notes:
  • Nomenclatural type of the genus Methanobacterium Kluyver and van Niel 1936 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Kluyver AJ, Van Niel CB. Prospects for a natural system of classification of bacteria. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II 1936; 94:369-403.
  • DSM 1535 replaces DSM 863 Request for an Opinion: IJSB 37:172; Approval: Opinion 64, IJSB 42:654. Publication: Boone DR. Replacement of the type strain of Methanobacterium formicicum and reinstatement of Methanobacterium bryantii sp. nov. nom. rev. (ex Balch and Wolfe, 1981) with M.o.H. (DSM 863) as the type strain. Request for an opinion. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1987; 37:172-173.

Parent taxon: Methanobacterium Kluyver and van Niel 1936 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Schnellen CGTP. Onderzoekingen over de methaangisting. Thesis Technical University Delft. De Maasstad, Rotterdam, 1947.

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