A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive, aerobic, non-motile and orange-pigmented bacterial strain, containing flexirubin-type pigments, designated H8(T), was isolated from raw cow's milk in Israel. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the isolate should be placed in the genus Chryseobacterium (family Flavobacteriaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes). The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain H8(T) and the type strains of described Chryseobacterium species were 97.5 % or lower. Strain H8(T) grew at 5-37 degrees C and with 0-3.0 % NaCl. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-15 : 0, iso-17 : 0 3-OH, iso-17 : 1omega9c and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-15 : 0 2-OH and/or 16 : 1omega7c). On the basis of phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, the milk isolate H8(T) is classified as a member of a novel species in the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the name Chryseobacterium oranimense sp. nov. (type strain H8(T) =LMG 24030(T) =DSM 19055(T)) is proposed.