Strain and genome description S. defensii MSr10575 forms yellowish-orange colonies with irregular edges towards the colony margin in axenic culture and was isolated in 2013 from the HZI soil collection (formerly GBF soil collection). Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis, MSr10575 was positioned among the Sorangiineae suborder in the Sandaracinus clade (see Figure ), indicating that it belongs to the yet underexplored myxobacterial genera. The 16S rRNA sequencing and subsequent BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) search revealed closest similarity of the strain (99.4%) to S. amylolyticus NOSO4 T (GenBank accession number: KP306728). Its affiliation with the Sandaracinus clade was based on 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analysis, while the proposal for a new species was based on the average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) and DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) (see SI) of the strain's PacBio genome sequence. Strain MSr10575 exhibits starch degrading properties comparable to S. amylolyticus NOSO4 T , with the respective α-amylases (five αamylase type and one α-1-6 glucosidase genes) present in its genome (see SI). S. defensii presents a genome size of 10.754 Mb, which is above the bacterial average, for which myxobacteria are well-known. We predict a total number of 21 BGCs by AntiSmash in the strains chromosomal DNA, with only one of those BGCs-namely the myxochelin BGCcorrelated to the respective product yet. 19% of the predicted BGCs belong to the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) or NRPS-like BGCs each, while 9% represent hybrids. The amount of polyketide encoding BGCs is comparably low with only one pure PKS cluster detectable in the genome. Interestingly, the majority of BGCs (24%) are predicted to produce terpenoid NPs, highlighting the strains excellent potential for the discovery of novel molecules belonging to this underrepresented NP class in myxobacteria. A complete description of the strain morphology and purification can be found in the SI. The respective genome sequence is deposited in GenBank alongside with the publication of this manuscript.