Six bacterial strains were isolated from healthy marine organisms that were collected from the coast of the Kanto area in Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequence similarity showed that the six isolates formed a separate cluster in the gamma-Proteobacteria and were related to the genera Alteromonas and Glaciecola (<91.6 % similarity). The isolates were related closely to each other (DNA-DNA reassociation values of 74-93 %). The isolates had a polar flagellum and were Gram-negative, mesophilic, strictly aerobic rods that required salt for growth. Distinct phenotypic features of this group included the ability to hydrolyse agar and white pigmentation of colonies. The DNA G+C content of the isolates was 48-50 mol%. The major quinone was Q-8. Phenotypic characteristics of the isolates differed from those of members of the genera Alteromonas and GLACIECOLA: The name Agarivorans albus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for the six isolates; the type strain is MKT 106(T) (=IAM 14998(T)=LMG 21761(T)).