In this study, the taxonomic positions of 19 Vibrio isolates disclosed in a previous study were evaluated. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences partitioned these isolates into groups that were closely related (98.8-99.1 % similarity) to Vibrio pelagius and Vibrio xuii, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments further showed that these groups had <70 % similarity to other Vibrio species. Two novel Vibrio species are proposed to accommodate these groups: Vibrio fortis sp. nov. (type strain, LMG 21557(T)=CAIM 629(T)) and Vibrio hepatarius sp. nov. (type strain, LMG 20362(T)=CAIM 693(T)). The DNA G+C content of both novel species is 45.6 mol%. Useful phenotypic features for discriminating V. fortis and V. hepatarius from other Vibrio species include production of indole and acetoin, utilization of cellobiose, fermentation of amygdalin, melibiose and mannitol, beta-galactosidase and tryptophan deaminase activities and fatty acid composition.