This Gram positive coccus is found in pairs, tetrads, irregular clusters, and cubical packets of eight. Cells are catalase positive, oxidase positive, and exhibit strictly aerobic metabolism. Able to use glucose aerobically. Optimum growth temperature is 20-40 C. It is primarily isolated from natural salt and saline environments. There is no evidence this microbe is involved in causation of disease. Once considered a species of the genus Micrococcus.