Strain EJ-46T, a novel pleomorphic, aerobic, extremely halophilic member of the Archaea was isolated from sediment of the saline Lake Ejinor, in Inner Mongolia, China. This organism was neutrophilic and required at least 15 % (2.5 M) NaCl for growth. MgCl2 was not required. The isolate was able to grow at pH 6.0-9.0. Optimum growth occurred in media containing 20 % (3.4 M) NaCl at pH 7.0-7.5. Polar lipid analysis revealed the presence of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, derived from both C20C20 and C20C25 glycerol diethers. Four glycolipids were detected, one of which may be novel. The DNA G+C content was 60.3 mol%. 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that strain EJ-46T was a member of the phylogenetic group defined by the family Halobacteriaceae, and the highest 16S rRNA gene similarity values of 94.9 and 94.8 % were obtained with the haloalkaliphilic species of the genus Natronococcus, Natronococcus occultus and Natronococcus amylolyticus, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, it is proposed that the novel isolate should be classified as representing a new genus and species, for which the name Halovivax asiaticus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EJ-46T (=CGMCC 1.4248T = CECT 7098T).