The taxonomic positions of five bacterial strains isolated from the Yaeyama Islands of Japan and 'Microscilla arenaria' NBRC 15982 were determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses placed all of the strains close to the genus Flammeovirga. DNA-DNA hybridization studies, biochemical and physiological characterizations and chemotaxonomic analyses suggested that 'M. arenaria' NBRC 15982 and the five novel isolates represented two separate species of the genus Flammeovirga. Emendation of the genus Flammeovirga Nakagawa et al. 1997 and the species Flammeovirga aprica (Reichenbach 1989) Nakagawa et al. 1997 is proposed. In addition, 'Microscilla arenaria' Lewin 1969 is proposed as Flammeovirga arenaria nom. rev., comb. nov. (with the type strain NBRC 15982(T)=CIP 109101(T)) and the novel isolates are proposed as Flammeovirga yaeyamensis sp. nov. (type strain IR25-3(T)=NBRC 100898(T)=CIP 109099(T)).