Cells of this organism are motile cocci that have about 50 flagella at one end and are often found in pairs. The generation time is among the shortest found among the Archaea - only 37 minutes under optimal conditions. The optimal sodium chloride concentration is less than that of seawater, probably reflecting the fact that it grows in sediments near 100 C where the salt concentration is less than that of seawater.
Elemental sulfur stimulates growth by removing the waste product, hydrogen.
P. furiosus is remarkable because it is able to maintain chromosomal integrity at temperatures up to 103 C with very little accumulation of DNA breaks. It also is highly resistant to radiation and can withstand doses up to 1.5 kGy. These characteristics suggest there is a highly effective DNA repair systems in hyperthermophiles. These organisms also possess an array of highly thermostable enzymes that could prove to be important biocatalysts. Comparison of the DNA sequence of this organism with others may provide insight into these unique characteristics.