''Marinobacter'' is a genus of
bacteria
Bacteria (; : bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of Prokaryote, prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micr ...
found in sea water. They are also found in a variety of salt lakes.
A number of
strains and
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
can
degrade hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and Hydrophobe, hydrophobic; their odor is usually fain ...
s. The species involved in hydrocarbon degradation include ''
M. alkaliphilus'', ''
M. arcticus'', ''
M. hydrocarbonoclasticus'', ''
M. maritimus'', and ''
M. squalenivorans''.
There are currently 46 species of ''Marinobacter'' that are characterized by Gram-negative rods and salt-tolerance.
References
Alteromonadales
Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria
Bacteria genera
{{Alteromonadales-stub