Methanohalophilus mahii

Methanohalophilus mahii
Scanning electron microscope image of Mhp. mahii SLP
Scientific classification
Domain: Archaea
Kingdom: Methanobacteriati
Phylum: Halobacteriota
Class: Methanomicrobia
Order: Methanosarcinales
Family: Methanosarcinaceae
Genus: Methanohalophilus
Species:
M. mahii
Binomial name
Methanohalophilus mahii
Paterek and Smith (1988)

Methanohalophilus mahii (also known as Mhp. mahii) is an obligately anaerobic, methylotrophic, methanogenic cocci-shaped archaeon of the genus Methanohalophilus that can be found in high salinity aquatic environments. The name Methanohalophilus is said to be derived from methanum meaning "methane" in Latin; halo meaning "salt" in Greek; and mahii meaning "of Mah" in Latin, after R.A. Mah, who did substantial amounts of research on aerobic and methanogenic microbes. The proper word in ancient Greek for "salt" is however hals (ἅλς). The specific strain type was designated SLP (= ATCC 35705) and is currently the only identified strain of this species.