Two brightly red-pigmented, motile, rod and triangular-shaped, extremely halophilic archaea were isolated from saltern crystallizer ponds located in peninsular coast of India. They grew optimally at salt concentrations between 25 and 35% and did not grow below 20% salts. Thus, these isolates are among the most halophilic organisms known within the domain Bacteria. The isolate HA3 showed optimal growth at 42°C whereas HA9 showed optimal growth at 52°C. These haloversatile microorganisms were presumed as new strains of Haloarcula. H. quadrata (HA3) showed unusual broad spectrum antibiotic resistance pattern. The isolate HA9 was named as H. vallismortis var. cellulolytica due to its peculiar cellulolytic activity, though full taxonomic description is pending.