[2][1][4][5][6] It is gram negative, rod shaped and motile with the distinct characteristics of budding and peritrichous prosthecae.
The presence of the branched prosthecae, has an increased surface to volume ratio, so that it can maximize nutrient uptake, due to the low nutrient availability in the polar seas.
Lastly, G. polaris has a fatty acid profile similar to other genera to include Alteromonas, Pseudoalteromonas and Glaciecola.
[7] The 16S rRNA gene shows a 98% similarity to Glaciocola mesophila.
[6] It is chemoheterotrophic and can utilize a number of nutrient sources including, but not limited to, glucose, mannitol, cellobiose, sucrose, maltose, galactose, fructose, trehalose, mannose, acetate, glycogen, dextrin, lactate, propionate, glutamate, and malate In addition, it hydrolyzes egg yolk, starch, aesculin, and DNA, but does not reduce nitrate.