, belonging to the genus Corynebacterium was isolated from a severe thigh liposarcoma infection and its differentiation from Corynebacterium xerosis and Corynebacterium freneyi is described. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, rpoB sequences and the PCR profile of the 16S-23S spacer regions was not conclusive enough to differentiate strain C-138 T from C. xerosis and C. freneyi. However, according to DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain C-138 T constitutes a member of a distinct novel species. It can be differentiated from strains of C. xerosis and C. freneyi by colony morphology, the absence of a-glucosidase and some biochemical characteristics such as glucose fermentation at 42 6C and carbon assimilation substrates. The name Corynebacterium hansenii sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species; the type strain is C-138 T (=CIP 108444 T =CCUG 53252 T ).