The analysis of a 16S rRNA gene clone library generated from saltern waters indicated that 69% of the archaeal clones were closely related to Hqr.walsbyi and the rest to Halobacterium salinarum.However, our study identified 3major genera inMaras salt (Haloarcula, Halobacterium and Natronomonas) but Hqr. walsbyi was not detected.