The Micrococcaceae The family Micrococcaceae contains gram-positive cocci, 0.5-2.5 μm in diameter, that divide in more than one plane to form regular or irregular clusters of cells. All are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic. The peptidoglycan di-amino acid is L-lysine.
The three most important genera are: Micrococcus,Staphylococcus,Streptococcus
Micrococcus – aerobic, gram-positive, catalase positive, cell arranges mainly in pairs, tetrads, or irregular clusters, nonmotile. They are often yellow, orange or red in color Staphylococcus - facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive, usually form irregular clusters, nonmotile, catalase positive but oxidase negative, ferment glucose anaerobically. Streptococcus - facultatively anaerobic or microaerophilic, catalase negative, gram-positive, Cell arranges in pairs or chains, usually nonmotile, A few species are anaerobic rather than facultative.