A yellow-pigmented, non-motile, Gram-negative bacterium, designated Fg 69T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected in Chazhma Bay (Sea of Japan). The novel organism grew at 10-35 degrees C, was neutrophilic and required 3-10% NaCl for optimal growth. Strain Fg 69T was able to degrade starch and to hydrolyse gelatin and Tween 80 weakly but not casein or agar. Predominant cellular fatty acids comprised n-C15 and n-C16 branched-chain and straight-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, including iso-C(15:0) (5%), anteiso-C(15:0) (11%), C(15:0) (9%), iso-C(15:1) (5%), iso-C(16:0) (8%), C(16:0) (5%) and C(16:1)omega7 (5%) and iso- and anteiso-branched 2-OH and 3-OH C(15:0) to C(17:0) fatty acids (26 % in total). The G + C content of the DNA was 40.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence data indicated that strain Fg 69T belonged to the genus Salegentibacter but was distinct from recognized Salegentibacter species (94-95 % sequence similarity). Based on these results, a novel species, Salegentibacter flavus sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is Fg 69T (= KMM 6000T = CIP 107843T).