Thermococcus

In taxonomy, Thermococcus is a genus of extreme thermophiles in the family the Thermococcaceae.

They consist of Gram-negative spheres that move with flagella. They are organothrophic anaerobes, growing in temperatures above 70 °C. Some species require elemental sulphur as electron acceptor, producing hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), while some species are also able to reduce H+. Thermococcus coalescens is an example species which has cells that can fuse in culturing to produce monster single cells.