A novel strain, D3T, isolated from a field-soil sample obtained from Anhui Province, PR China, was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. The cells were Gram-negative, yellow-pigmented rods devoid of flagella, but showing gliding motility. The organism was able to grow at 5-37 degrees C and at pH 4.0-10.0. A comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain D3T is a member of the genus Flavobacterium, sharing highest sequence similarity with the type strain of Flavobacterium defluvii (96.7 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6 and the predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 omega 7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 31.4 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic data, strain D3T represents a novel species within the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium anhuiense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D3T (=KCTC 22128T = CGMCC 1.6859T).