leptospirillum ferriphilum leptospirillum ferriphilum leptospirillum ferriphilum is an iron-oxidising bacterium. it is one of the species responsible for the generation of acid mine drainage. it is of particular relevance in south african commercial biooxidation tanks operating at 40 °c. leptospirillum ferriphilum scientific classification domain: bacteria phylum: nitrospirota class: nitrospira order: nitrospirales family: nitrospiraceae genus: leptospirillum species: l. ferriphilum binomial name leptospirillum ferriphilumcoram & rawlings, 2002