Rhodospirillaceae

The Rhodospirillaceae are a family of Pseudomonadota. The majority are purple nonsulfur bacteria, producing energy through photosynthesis; originally all purple nonsulfur bacteria were included here.[4][5]

Rhodospirillaceae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Pseudomonadota
Class:	Alphaproteobacteria
Order:	Rhodospirillales
Family:	Rhodospirillaceae
Genera[1][2][3]
Aerophototrophica Tang et al. 2021 Algihabitans Wang et al. 2019 Aliidongia Chen et al. 2017 Caenispirillum Yoon et al. 2007 "Dechlorospirillum" Michaelidou et al. 2000 Denitrobaculum Wang et al. 2020 Dongia Liu et al. 2010 Ferruginivarius Wang et al. 2019 Haematospirillum Humrighouse et al. 2016 Hwanghaeella Kim et al. 2019 Hypericibacter Noviana et al. 2020 Indioceanicola Chen et al. 2018 Insolitispirillum Yoon et al. 2007 "Levispirillum" Pot and Gillis 2005 Magnetospirillum Schleifer et al. 1992 Marispirillum Lai et al. 2009 Novispirillum Yoon et al. 2007 Oleiliquidispirillum Li et al. 2020 Oleisolibacter Ruan et al. 2019 Pararhodospirillum Lakshmi et al. 2014 Phaeovibrio Lakshmi et al. 2011 Rhodospira Pfennig et al. 1998 Rhodospirillum Molisch 1907 (Approved Lists 1980) Roseospira Imhoff et al. 1998 "Roseospirillum" Glaeser and Overmann 1999 Tagaea Jean et al. 2016 Telmatospirillum Sizova et al. 2007

Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum with magnetosome chains faintly visible

They are often found in anaerobic aquatic environments, such as mud and stagnant water, although they are able to survive in air.[4]

This family also includes Magnetospirillum, which contains tiny chains of magnetite.[4] These let it sense the Earth's magnetic field, which runs downwards as well as north or south, to return to the bottom of a pond (magnetotaxis). Similar magnetite chains found in Martian meteorites have been suggested as evidence of life on Mars.[6]