palaeococcus ferrophilus palaeococcus ferrophilus palaeococcus ferrophilus is a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney. it cells are irregular cocci and motile with multiple polar flagella. palaeococcus ferrophilus scientific classification domain: archaea kingdom: euryarchaeota phylum: euryarchaeota class: thermococci order: thermococcales family: thermococcaceae genus: palaeococcus species: p. ferrophilus binomial name palaeococcus ferrophilustakai et al. 2000 paleococcus was the third genus within euryarchaeota to be described in the literature. these organisms prefer to use elemental sulfur as an electron acceptor, but they can also use ferrous oxide.