Rheinheimera faecalis sp. nov., isolated from Ceratotherium simum feces

A novel strain YR1^T, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and aerobic bacterium, was isolated from the feces of Ceratotherium simum. The strain grew at 9-42 °C (optimal temperature, 30 °C), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimal pH, 7.0), and in the presence of 0-3% (w/v) NaCl (optimal salinity, 0%). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that strain YR1^T was most closely related to Rheinheimera soli BD-d46^T (98.6%), R. riviphila KYPC3^T (98.6%), and R. mangrovi LHK 132^T (98.1%). Moreover, the average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity, and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain YR1^T and R. mangrovi LHK 132 ^T were 88.3%, 92.1%, and 35.3%, respectively, indicating that strain YR1^T is a novel species in the genus Rheinheimera. The genome size and genomic DNA G + C content of strain YR1^T were 4.5 Mbp and 46.37%, respectively. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol, while the predominant respiratory quinone was Q-8. Summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c), C_{16: 0}, and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c) were the primary cellular fatty acids (> 16%). Based on these genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain YR1^T was identified as a novel species in the genus Rheinheimera, for which the name Rheinheimera faecalis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain is YR1^T (= KACC 22402^T = JCM 34823^T).