At a glance
Essentials
- Distribution
- It has been isolated from the Dead Sea.
- Habitat
- It is halophilic and adapted to saline conditions; sources describe it as an organism with moderate salt requirements.
- Activity
- In laboratory studies, it forms biofilms and exhibits social motility.
- Diet
- Under experimental conditions, it can grow with external polyphosphate as its sole phosphorus source.
Observation guide
What to look for
- 01
It occurs in rod and disc shapes; the observed shape varies with growth conditions.
- 02
It has no rigid cell wall: its cells are surrounded by a glycoprotein surface layer.
Lighting, age and viewing angle can hide features. If identification affects consumption, handling or conservation, consult specialist sources.
Ecology
Description and characteristics
Haloferax volcanii is a halophilic archaeon studied as a model organism. Its cells can take rod or disc shapes, depending on growth conditions. Unlike cells with a rigid wall, it is surrounded by a surface layer of glycoprotein nature.
In laboratory studies, this archaeon forms biofilms and exhibits social motility. It has also been observed to grow using external polyphosphate as its sole phosphorus source; this describes a phosphorus source, not its complete diet.