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 3 major genera in Maras salt (Haloarcula, Halobacterium and Natronomonas) but Hqr. walsbyi was not detected.