Halobacteriaceae is a family in the order Halobacteriales and the domain Archaea. Halobacteriaceae represent a large part of halophilic Archaea, along with members in two other methanogenic families, Methanosarcinaceae and Methanocalculaceae. The family consists of many diverse genera that can survive extreme environmental niches. Most commonly, Halobacteriaceae are found in hypersaline lakes and can even tolerate sites polluted by heavy metals. They include neutrophiles, acidophiles, alkaliphiles, and there have even been psychrotolerant species discovered. Some members have been known to live aerobically, as well as anaerobically, and they come in many different morphologies. These diverse morphologies include rods in genus Halobacterium, cocci in Halococcus, flattened discs or cups in Haloferax, and other shapes ranging from flattened triangles in Haloarcula to squares in Haloquadratum, and Natronorubrum. Most species of Halobacteriaceae are best known for their high salt tolerance and red-pink pigmented members, but there are also non-pigmented species and those that require moderate salt conditions. Some species of Halobacteriaceae have been shown to exhibit phosphorus solubilizing activities that contribute to phosphorus cycling in hypersaline environments. Techniques such as 16S rRNA analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization have been major contributors to taxonomic classification in Halobacteriaceae, partly due to the difficulty in culturing halophilic Archaea.
Haladaptatus is a genus of halophilic archaea in the family of Halobacteriaceae. The members of Haladaptatus thrive in environments with salt concentrations approaching saturation
Halalkalicoccus is a genus of the Halobacteriaceae.
Halobaculum is a genus of the Halorubraceae.
Halobiforma is a genus of halophilic archaea of the family Natrialbaceae.
Halococcus is a genus of the Halococcaceae.
In taxonomy, Halogeometricum is a genus of the Haloferacaceae.
Halomicrobium is a genus of the Haloarculaceae.
In taxonomy, Haloplanus is a genus of the Halobacteriaceae.
Halorhabdus is a genus of halophilic archaea in the Haloarculaceae. With an extremely high salinity optimum of 27% NaCl, Halorhabdus has one of the highest reported salinity optima of any living organism.
In taxonomy, Halosarcina is a genus of the Halobacteriaceae.
In taxonomy, Halosimplex is a genus of the Halobacteriaceae.
Haloterrigena is a genus of the Natrialbaceae.
In taxonomy, Halovivax is a genus of the Natrialbaceae. Some species of Halovivax are halophiles and have been found in Iran's Aran-Bidgol hypersaline lake.
Natrinema is a genus of the Natrialbaceae.
In taxonomy, Natronobacterium is a genus of the Natrialbaceae. A member of the domain Archaea, it is both an extreme halophile and alkaliphile, thriving at an optimum saline concentration of 20% and optimum pH of 10.
In taxonomy, Natronococcus is a genus of the Natrialbaceae.
Natronolimnobius is a genus of the Natrialbaceae.
Natronomonas is a genus of the Halobacteriaceae.
Natronorubrum is a genus in the family Halobacteriaceae.
