A moderately halophilic coccus is described which possesses morphological and physiological characteristics most nearly corresponding to those of members of the genus Micrococcus. The organism was isolated from unrefined solar salt and is a moderate halophile: no growth occurs in media without added NaCl, but good growth is observed in media containing 1 to 4 m NaCl or KCl. The characteristics of this organism are sufficiently discrete to suggest that it be placed in a new species, for which the name Micrococcus halobius is proposed. The type strain is 28-3 (= ATCC 21727).