A bacterial strain (CC-TWGS1-8(T)) isolated from a tar-contaminated soil in Taiwan was studied in a detailed taxonomic study. The cells were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming. Phylogenetic analyses using the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain clearly revealed an affiliation to the genus Chryseobacterium, the highest sequence similarities being to the type strain of Chryseobacterium indologenes (96.8 %), to Chryseobacterium gleum (96.8 %) and to Chryseobacterium joostei (96.4 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other Chryseobacterium species were below 96 %. The major whole-cell fatty acids were 15 : 0 iso (35.4 %) and 17 : 0 iso 3OH (22.5 %). DNA-DNA hybridization values and the biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties demonstrate that strain CC-TWGS1-8(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Chryseobacterium taichungense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-TWGS1-8(T) (= CCUG 50001(T) = CIP 108519(T)).