Seven melanogenic Pseudoalteromonas distincta-like strains, KMM 3562T, KMM 3536, KMM 3537, KMM 3538, KMM 3539, KMM 3615 and KMM 3629, which expressed tyrosinases were isolated from sea-water samples collected from different locations in Amursky Bay (Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean) and characterized to clarify their taxonomic position. By 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the bacteria were shown to belong to the genus Pseudoalteromonas. The G + C content of the DNAs of the strains was 41-43 mol%. The level of DNA similarity among these strains was conspecific (92-97 %), indicating that they represented a single genospecies. However, DNA from the strains isolated from sea water showed only 63-65 % genetic relatedness with the DNA of the type strain P. distincta. The novel organisms grew mainly between 4 and 30 degrees C, were neutrophilic and slightly halophilic (four strains had a narrow range of growth between 3 and 6 % NaCl, w/v), were haemolytic and cytotoxic and were able to degrade starch, gelatin and Tween 80. The predominant fatty acids, including 16 : 0, 16 : 1omega7, 17 : 1omega7 and 18 : 1omega7, were typical of the genus Pseudolateromonas. The phylogenetic, genetic and physiological properties of the seven strains placed them within a novel species, Pseudoalteromonas aliena sp. nov., the type strain of which is SW19T (= KMM 3562T = LMG 22059T).