Thiomargarita namibiensis

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgrey | name = Thiomargarita namibiensis | regnum = Bacteria | phylum = Proteobacteria | classis = Gamma Proteobacteria | ordo = Thiotrichales | familia = Thiotrichaceae | genus = Thiomargarita | species = T. namibiensis | binomial = Thiomargarita namibiensis | binomial_authority = Schulz et al., 1999 }} Thiomargarita namibiensis ("Sulfur pearl of Namibia") is the largest bacterium ever discovered, with a width up to 750 μm (0.75 mm; about the size of a period on this article) [1], making it easily visible to the naked eye. Their size is attributable to a large vacuole in which they store nitrate.

The species was discovered by Heide N. Shulz and others in 1999, on the continental shelf off of Namibia. The previously largest known bacterium was Epulopiscium fishelsoni, at 0.5 mm long.[2]

There are no other species in the genus.

External links

• Dense populations of a giant sulfur bacterium in Namibian shelf sedimentsTemplate:Proteobacteria-stub

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