Family of Phototrophic Green Sulfur Bacteria: Chlorobiaceae Copeland, the Correct Family Name; Rejection of Chlorobacterium Lauterborn; and the Taxonomic Situation of the Consortium-Forming Species: Request for an Opinion

The family of phototrophic green sulfur bacteria contains five genera: Chlorobium Nadson 1906, Pelodictyon Lauterborn 1913, Clathrochloris Geitler 1925, Chloropseudomonas Czurda and Maresch 1937, and Prosthecochloris Gorlenko 1970. Of these, Chlorobium is the type genus, and the name of the family is Chlorobiaceae Copeland 1956. The familial name Chlorobacteriaceae Lauterborn 1913 is illegitimate. Furthermore, the applications of the names Chlorobacterium Lauterborn 1916 and C. symbioticum Lauterborn 1916 are uncertain, and the Judicial Commission is requested to place these names in the list of rejected names. The taxonomic situation of the consortium-forming “symbiotic species” of the phototrophic green sulfur bacteria (Chlorochromatium aggregatium, Chlorochromatium glebulum, Pelochromatium roseum, and Cylindrogloea bacterifera) is discussed.