A family of archaea, in the order DESULFUROCOCCALES, consisting of anaerobic cocci which utilize peptides, proteins or carbohydrates facultatively by sulfur respiration or fermentation. There are eight genera: AEROPYRUM, Desulfurococcus, Ignicoccus, Staphylothermus, Stetteria, Sulfophoboccus, Thermodiscus, and Thermosphaera. (From Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 2d ed)

Synonyms: Ignicoccus, txid2273, txid2272, Thermosphaera, Sulfophobococcus, Thermodiscus, Desulfurococcus, txid54258, txid52130, Staphylothermus, Desulfurococcaceae, txid54253, txid2279, Stetteria, txid54249, txid53425