D. acetoxidans[1] D. aeronauticum[1] D. alcoholivorax[1] D. alkaliphilum[1] D. antarcticum[1] D. arcticum[1] D. australicum[1] D. audaxviator D. carboxydivorans[1] D. defluvii[1] D. geothermicum[1] D. gibsoniae[1] D. guttoideum[1] D. halophilum[1] D. hydrothermale[1] D. intricatum[1] D. kuznetsovii[1] D. luciae[1] D. nigrificans[1] D. peckii[1] D. putei[1] D. ruminis[1] D. sapomandens[1] D. solfataricum[1] D. thermoacetoxidans[1] D. thermobenzoicum[1] D. thermocisternum[1] D. thermosapovorans[1] D. thermosubterraneum[1] D. tongense[1] D. varum[1] Desulfotomaculum is a genus of Gram-positive, obligately anaerobic soil bacteria.
[citation needed] In 2005, a new strain of Desulfotomaculum, called Desulforudis audaxviator, was discovered during drilling 2.8 km deep in the Mponeng gold mine in South Africa.
The strain, found in water which has been isolated for tens of millions of years, exists completely independent of photosynthesis.
[3] Some organisms can obtain energy from sources other than from the sun or other stars, which means similar lifeforms may be found on other planets in the Solar System and elsewhere.
They are motile with a peritrichous flagella and are common inhabitants of soil, water, geothermal run-off, insect intestines and in rumen.