[3] This difference has led researchers to propose the creation of a new genus, Albidoferax, to accommodate this divergent species.

[4] Rhodoferax species are Gram-negative rods, ranging in diameter from 0.5 to 0.9 μm with a single polar flagellum.

[1] The first two species described for the genus, R. fermentans and R. antarcticus, are facultative photoheterotrophs that can grow anaerobically when exposed to light and aerobically under dark conditions at atmospheric levels of oxygen.

[1] R. ferrireducens is a nonphototrophic facultative anaerobe capable of reducing Fe(III) at temperatures as low as 4 °C.

[4] All Rhodoferax species possess ubiquinone and rhodoquinone derivatives with eight unit isoprenoid side chains.

[6] The genome also contains several genes suggesting R. ferrireducens may have some ability to resist exposure to metalloids and heavy metals.

[1][2] In the case of R. antarcticus, strains were first isolated from microbial mats collected from saline ponds in Cape Royds, Ross Island, Antarctica.

[3] Growth of some Rhodoferax species can be supported by anoxygenic photoorganotrophy, anaerobic-dark fermentation, or aerobic respiration.

[1][2][8] The species R. fermentans and R. antarcticus are capable of phototrophic growth using carbon sources such as acetate, pyruvate, lactate, succinate, malate, fumarate, glucose, fructose, citrate, and aspartate.

[1][2][8] Anaerobic growth via sugar fermentation can be carried out in the dark by R. fermentans, and is stimulated by the addition of bicarbonate.

[1][2] R. antarcticus has not yet demonstrated the ability to ferment under dark anaerobic conditions, but is capable of aerobic chemoorganotrophy.

[1][3][8] Currently, research in the area of sustainable energy is investigating the application and design of microbial fuel cells (MFC) using R.