Name: Methanococcus jannaschii Jones et al. 1984

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: jan.na’schi.i. N.L. gen. masc. n. jannaschii, of Jannasch, named for the marine microbiologist H.W. Jannasch

Pronunciation (Latin), gender: … jan-NA-s͡hi-i, masculine

Type strain: ATCC 43067; CIP 104961; DSM 2661; JAL-1; JCM 10045; NBRC 100440; OCM 168

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: AB603516 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Jones WJ, Leigh JA, Mayer F, Woese CR, Wolfe RS. Methanococcus jannaschii sp. nov., an extremely thermophilic methanogen from a submarine hydrothermal vent. Arch. Microbiol. 1983; 136:254-261.

IJSEM list: Anonymous. Validation list no. 16. Validation of publication of new names and new combinations previously effectively published outside the IJSB. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1984; 34:503-504.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: synonym

Correct name: Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Jones et al. 1984) Whitman 2002

Risk group: 1

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    "Methanocaldococcus jannaschii" (Jones et al. 1984) Boone et al. 1993	homotypic synonym, not validly published
    Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Jones et al. 1984) Whitman 2002	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • ❗ Methanococcus jannaschii 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 631 times in PubMed until 2025-06-04.
  • 🧍 The strain CIP 104961 is not available. — Bizet C. Personal communication, 2005-06-28.

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

Assigned by: Jones WJ, Leigh JA, Mayer F, Woese CR, Wolfe RS. Methanococcus jannaschii sp. nov., an extremely thermophilic methanogen from a submarine hydrothermal vent. Arch. Microbiol. 1983; 136:254-261.

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Record number: 777852