Type strain is Sphingorhabdus commune GE-11 (GCA_965234695.1), isolated from 5 m depth from Lake Greifensee, Switzerland (date: 2019-04-03), via high-throughput dilution to extinction cultivation. GE-11 has a genome size of 2.4 Mbp with a genomic GC content of 54.9%, contains 3 rRNA genes and 42 tRNAs. The genome is complete, consisting of a circular chromosome. The genome contains genes encoding rhodopsins and the biosynthetic pathway for retinal biosynthesis. No genes for flagellar or pilus assembly and chemotaxis were annotated. Pathways for assimilatory sulfate reduction and methane/alkanesulfonate oxidation and the biosynthesis of all amino acids were predicted. Further, pathways for riboflavin, NAD, coenzyme A, THF, and heme biosynthesis were identified. The closest cultivated relative is Sphingorhabdus wooponensis 03SU3-P (GCF_003933235.1), with an average amino acid identity of 87.4% and average nucleotide identity of 80.5%. Current GTDB classification (R220): d__Bacteria; p__Pseudomonadota; c__Alphaproteobacteria; o__Sphingomonadales; f__Sphingomonadaceae; g__Sphingorhabdus_B; s__Sphingorhabdus_B sp903821685.