The results of a phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analysis of the genus Micrococcus indicated that it is
significantly heterogeneous. Except for Micrococcus lylae, no species groups phylogenetically with the type
species of the genus, Micrococcus luteus. The other members of the genus form three separate phylogenetic lines
which on the basis of chemotaxonomic properties can be assigned to four genera. These genera are the genus
Kocuria gen. nov. for Micrococcus roseus, Micrococcus varians, and Micrococcus kristinae, described as Kocuria
rosea comb. nov., Kocuria varians comb. nov., and Kocuria kristinae comb. nov., respectively; the genus Nesterenkonia
gen. nov. for Micrococcus halobius, described as Nesterenkonia halobia comb. nov.; the genus Kytococcus
gen. nov. ffor Micrococcus nishinomiyaensis, described as Kytococcus nishinomiyaensis comb. nov.; and the genus
Dermacoccus gen. nov. for Micrococcus sedentarius, described as Dermacoccus sedentarius comb. nov. M. luteus
and M. lylae, which are closely related phylogenetically but differ in some chemotaxonomic properties, are the
only species that remain in the genus Micrococcus Cohn 1872. An emended description of the genus Micrococcus
is given.