The taxonomic positions of strains previously assigned to Pseudomonas diminuta and Pseudomonas vesicularis were investigated by a polyphasic approach. The results of DNA-rRNA hybridization studies indicated that these two species belong to a separate genus in the alpha subclass (rRNA superfamily IV) of the Proteobacteria, for which the name Brevundimonas is proposed. Genus delineation and species delineation were determined by comparing the results of numerical analyses of whole-cell protein patterns, fatty acid compositions, and phenotypic characteristics and by measuring DNA base ratios and degrees of DNA relatedness. Taxonomic characteristics of Brevundimonas diminuta and Brevundimonas vesicularis strains were compared with characteristics of reference strains belonging to the following phylogenetically related taxa: a group of organisms gathered in Enevold Falsen group 21, the genera Sphingomonas and Rhizomonas, and the generically misclassified organisms [Pseudomonas] echinoides and "[Pseudomonas] riboflavina."