Name: Methanococcus igneus Burggraf et al. 1990

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: i’gne.us. L. masc. adj. igneus, belonging to the fire, denoting its high growth temperature

Pronunciation, gender: I-n͡gne-us, masculine

Type strain: DSM 5666; JCM 11834; Kol 5

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: M59125 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Burggraf S, Fricke H, Neuner A, Kristjansson J, Rouvier P, Mandelco L, Woese CR, Stetter KO. Methanococcus igneus sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic methanogen from a shallow submarine hydrothermal system. Syst Appl Microbiol 1990; 13:263-269.

IJSEM list: Anonymous. Validation list no. 35. Validation of publication of new names and new combinations previously effectively published outside the IJSB. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1990; 40:470-471.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: synonym

Correct name: Methanotorris igneus (Burggraf et al. 1990) Whitman 2002

Risk group: 1

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Methanotorris igneus (Burggraf et al. 1990) Whitman 2002	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    "Methanoignis igneus" (Burggraf et al. 1990) Boone et al. 1993	homotypic synonym, not validly published

• Notes:
  • ❗ Methanococcus igneus is the correct name instead if this species is regarded as a separate species (i.e., if its nomenclatural type is not assigned to another species whose name is validly published, legitimate and not rejected and has priority) within a separate genus Methanococcus.
  • 😷 The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 1, note = "Animal classification RG: 1 - Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No - Containment level: Containment Level 1". — The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 1. — The risk group for Germany has been imported on 2023-10-29. The full classification is: risk group = 1. — If in doubt, use the risk group given in the regulations for your country and, if these are not available, use the risk group given in the catalogue of the culture collection from which you have obtained or intend to obtain the strain.
  • 🎓 Name mentioned 13 times in PubMed until 2025-06-04.

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

Assigned by: Burggraf S, Fricke H, Neuner A, Kristjansson J, Rouvier P, Mandelco L, Woese CR, Stetter KO. Methanococcus igneus sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic methanogen from a shallow submarine hydrothermal system. Syst Appl Microbiol 1990; 13:263-269.

Linking: To permanently link to this page, use https://lpsn.dsmz.de/species/methanococcus-igneusCopy to clipboardLink copied to clipboard

Record number: 777850