Leptothrix (bacterium)

Leptothrix
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Kingdom:	Pseudomonadati
Phylum:	Pseudomonadota
Class:	Betaproteobacteria
Order:	Burkholderiales
(unranked):	incertae sedis
Genus:	Leptothrix; Kützing 1843
Type species
	Leptothrix ochracea; (Roth 1797) Kützing 1843
Species
	Leptothrix cholodnii Mulder and van Veen 1963; Leptothrix discophora (ex Schwers 1912) Spring et al. 1997; Leptothrix lopholea Dorff 1934; Leptothrix mobilis Spring et al. 1997; Leptothrix ochracea (Roth 1797) Kützing 1843;
Synonyms
	Detoniella Trevisan in de Toni and Trevisan 1889; Chlamydothrix Migula 1900;

Leptothrix is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria in the class Betaproteobacteria. The name is from the Greek leptos thrix (literally 'fine hair'). They occur in standing or slow-flowing, ferruginous, neutral to slightly acidic fresh waters with only low concentrations of organic matter. The energy metabolism of Leptothrix is strictly aerobic, oxidative, and chemoorganoheterotrophic. Five species are known: L. ochracea, L. discophora, L. cholodnii, L. lopholea, and L. mobilis.