[1] S. putrefaciens is also a facultative anaerobe with the ability to reduce iron and manganese metabolically; that is, it can use iron and manganese as the terminal electron acceptor in the electron transport chain (in contrast to obligate aerobes which must use oxygen for this purpose).

In both solid and liquid media, S. putrefaciens is often recognizable by its bright pink color.

[2] Although it is very rare for it to act as a human pathogen, there have been cases of infections and bacteremia caused by S.

[3][4][5] Shewanella putrefaciens is one of several species that have been shown to derive energy by reducing U(VI) to U(IV), which is thought to be important in making uranium deposits.

[6] In fact, strain CN32 is very metabolically versatile and is capable of reducing metals, metalloids, and even radionuclides in place of oxygen during anaerobic growth.