Sulfolobus
Synonyms
Sulfolobus islandicus
Sulfolobus metallicus
Sulfolobus tokodaii
A genus of aerobic, chemolithotrophic, coccoid ARCHAEA whose organisms are thermoacidophilic. Its cells are highly irregular in shape, often lobed, but occasionally spherical. It has worldwide distribution with organisms isolated from hot acidic soils and water. Sulfur is used as an energy source.