The description is based on Grimont and Grimont (2005), Brenner et al. (1980), Chung et al. (1993) [6], [8], [18], [19] and this study. Cells are straight rods, 0.6–1.0 μm × 1.5–2.5 μm, motile by peritrichous flagella. Gram negative. Facultatively anaerobic. Optimum temperature for growth is 30 °C, but grows at 36 °C. Colonies are unpigmented, round, convex and smooth with entire margins on tryptone soya agar. Positive for Voges-Proskauer and ornithine decarboxylase, but negative for arginine dihydrolase, gelatinase and indole. Generally positive for lysine decarboxylase. Nitrate is reduced to nitrite. Glucose is fermented with production of acid and gas. N-acetyl-d-galactosamine, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, l-arabinose, d-arabitol, d-cellobiose, d-fructose, d-galactose, gentiobiose, d-glucose, maltose, d-mannitol, d-mannose, l-rhamnose, sucrose, d-trehalose, succinic acid mono-methyl ester, d-gluconic acid, l-proline, glycerol, α-d-glucose-1-phosphate, d-glucose-6-phosphate are oxidized (Biolog), whereas lactose, itaconic acid, d-serine, 2-aminoethanol and 2,3-butanediol are not. Reactions to tweens 40 and 80, m-inositol, d-melibiose, d-raffinose, d-sorbitol, turanose, cis-aconitic acid, p-hydroxy-phenylacetic acid, propionic acid, d-saccharic acid, l-alaninamide and l-threonine are variable. Major fatty acids are C16:0, C18:1ω7c and C17:0 cyclo with C16:0 representing more than 30% of the total amount. Members of the genus Pluralibacter form a clade using MLSA based on concatenated partial gyrB, rpoB, infB and atpD sequences. G + C contents range from 57.0 to 60.0 mol%.

Pluralibacter species are isolated from environmental sources, clinical samples and from brown leaf spots on pear trees.

The type species is Pluralibacter gergoviae Brenner, Richard, Steigerwalt, Asbury and Mandel (1980).