Two Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped phototrophic bacteria (designated strains N1 T and C7) were isolated from lagoon sediments. Both strains were positive for catalase and oxidase activity. Casein, starch, urea and Tween 20 were hydrolysed by both strains while chitin, gelatin and Tween 80 were not. In both strains, C 16 : 0 , C 18 : 0 ,C 16 : 1 !6c/C 16 : 1 !7c and C 18 : 1 !6c/ C 18 : 1 !7c were the predominant fatty acids, with minor amounts of C 8 : 0 3-OH, anteiso-C 14 : 0 , C 17 : 0 , C 14 : 1 !5c, C 17 : 1 10-methyl and C 18 : 1 !5c. Strains N1 T and C7 contained phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine as major polar lipids with minor amounts of phosphatidylcholine, unidentified lipids and an unidentified phospholipid. The mean genomic DNA G+C content was 70.6±1 mol% and the two strains were closely related (mean DNA-DNA hybridization >90 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the two strains clustered with species of the genus Rhodobacter belonging to the family Rhodobacteraceae of the class Alphaproteobacteria. Strain N1 T has a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.2 % with Rhodobacter capsulatus ATCC 11166 T , 99.1 % with Rhodobacter viridis JA737 T and <96.6 % with other members of the genus Rhodobacter. Strain N1 T and C7 shared 100 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain N1 T and the type strains of the nearest species were clearly below the 70 % threshold. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, it is proposed that strain N1 T represents a novel species of the genus Rhodobacter, for which the name Rhodobacter sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is N1 T (=KEMB 563-471 T =JCM 31175 T ), and strain C7 is an additional strain of the species.