Name: Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus Huber et al. 1984

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: ther.mo.li.tho.tro’phi.cus. Gr. fem. adj. thermê, heat; Gr. masc./fem. n. lithos, stone; Gr. masc. adj. trophikos, nursing, tending; N.L. masc. adj. thermolithotrophicus, grows lithotrophically at elevated temperatures

Pronunciation, gender: t^her-mo-li-t^ho-TRO-p^hi-kus, masculine

Type strain: ATCC 35097; DSM 2095; JCM 10549; OCM 138; SN 1

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: M59128 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Huber H, Thomm M, König H, Thies G, Stetter KO. Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, a novel thermophilic lithotrophic methanogen. Arch. Microbiol. 1982; 132:47-50.

IJSEM list: Anonymous. Validation list no. 14. Validation of publication of new names and new combinations previously effectively published outside the IJSB. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1984; 34:270-271.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: synonym

Correct name: Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus (Huber et al. 1984) Whitman 2002

Risk group: 1

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus (Huber et al. 1984) Whitman 2002	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • ❗ Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus 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 66 times in PubMed until 2025-06-04.
  • 🧍 Complete authorship reads: Huber, Thomm and Stetter 1984 in Huber, Thomm, König, Thies and Stetter 1982.

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

Assigned by: Huber H, Thomm M, König H, Thies G, Stetter KO. Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, a novel thermophilic lithotrophic methanogen. Arch. Microbiol. 1982; 132:47-50.

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Record number: 777856