Living Beings
    Source-identified Methanococcus maripaludis; Electron micrograph showing a cell and appendages. Framed for display
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    Electron micrograph of Methanococcus maripaludis.png · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Electron micrograph showing a cell and appendages. Dr. Ken F. Jarrell and Dr. Shin-Ichi Aizawa · CC0

    Field guide · species

    Methanococcus maripaludis

    Jones et al. 1984

    What does the authority mean?

    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    MethanobacteriatiMethanococciMethanococcalesMethanococcaceae

    Methanococcus maripaludis is a methane-producing archaeon associated with marine sediment. It has become an important laboratory organism for understanding and modifying archaeal metabolism.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

    Compare species
    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainArchaea
    3. KingdomMethanobacteriati
    4. PhylumMethanobacteriota
    5. ClassMethanococci
    6. OrderMethanococcales
    7. FamilyMethanococcaceae
    8. GenusMethanococcus
    9. SpeciesMethanococcus maripaludis
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Archaea domain
    3. Methanobacteriati kingdom
    4. Methanobacteriota phylum
    5. Methanomada group clade
    6. Methanococci class
    7. Methanococcales order
    8. Methanococcaceae family
    9. Methanococcus genus
    10. Methanococcus maripaludis species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Structure and identification

    The electron micrograph shows a small, roughly rounded cell with surface appendages. A micrograph reveals cell structure rather than a visible animal-like body.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Habitat and range

    The original species was isolated from salt-marsh sediment. Culture-collection records identify a South Carolina coastal source.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Nutrition and metabolism

    Laboratory cultures can grow with carbon dioxide and hydrogen or with formate. Methane production is a central feature of the metabolism.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Biological activity

    Genetic experiments use its own DNA-repair machinery to alter genes. These experiments distinguish an engineered laboratory strain from a wild population.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The documented isolation site is evidence of occurrence, not a complete geographic range map.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Ecological role

    Methanogenesis contributes to carbon transformations in environments where oxygen is absent.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Distinctive adaptations

    Multiple genome copies and experimentally accessible genetics make it valuable for studying archaea. Its domain assignment must not be replaced with a bacterial kingdom label.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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