Thiomargarita namibiensis

Thiomargarita namibiensis is a remarkable type of bacteria known as a "giant sulfur bacterium." It is one of the largest bacteria in the world, visible to the naked eye, reaching up to 0.75 millimeters in diameter. Found off the coast of Namibia, it thrives by consuming sulfur compounds and storing nutrients in large vacuoles, allowing it to survive in nutrient-poor environments. Its size and ability to process sulfur help it play a key role in the ocean’s sulfur cycle, contributing to the health of marine ecosystems.