Surface colonies on agar are small, round and greyish white, with entire edges. Cells are obligately anaerobic and grow as chemoautotrophs. Grows at 14–40 uC (optimum 30 uC) and at pH 5.0–8.6 (optimum pH 6.5). Optimal growth occurs in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl. Growth is reduced by penicillin, vancomycin and kanamycin