[3] Cells are coccoid, resembling Staphylococcus and Micrococcus, and can group in pairs, chains, tetrads, cubical arrangements of eight, or irregular clusters.

[4] Depending on the species, they appear in a range of color such as: orange, pink, red, yellow or cream.

These test include: catalase, urease, oxidase, amylase, gelatins, phosphatase, beta-galactosidase activities, and carbon source and citrate utilization.

[4][16] In a study done by Louisiana State University, 75 strains of bacteria from the Atacama Desert were tested for its ability to grow in Mars-like climates.

The environment tested contained high concentrations of perchlorate salts, a similar condition found on Mars surface.