During a phylogenetic analysis of
Sphingorhabdus
and its closely related genera in the family
Sphingomonadaceae
, we found that the genus
Sphingorhabdus
and the species
Sphingopyxis baekryungensis
might not be properly assigned in the taxonomy. Phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations clearly showed that the genus
Sphingorhabdus
should be reclassified into two genera (Clade I and Clade II), for which the original genus name,
Sphingorhabdus
, is proposed to be retained only for Clade I, and a new genus named as Parasphingorhabdus gen. nov. is proposed for Clade II with four new combinations: Parasphingorhabdus marina comb. nov., Parasphingorhabdus litoris comb. nov., Parasphingorhabdus flavimaris comb. nov. and Parasphingorhabdus pacifica comb. nov. Moreover,
Sphingopyxis baekryungensis
should represent a novel genus in the family
Sphingomonadaceae
, for which the name Novosphingopyxis gen. nov. is proposed, with a combination of Novosphingopyxis baekryungensis comb. nov. The study provides a new insight into the taxonomy of closely related genera in the family
Sphingomonadaceae
.