tˈuː tˈaɪps ʌv lˈɪθoʊjˌuːɾətɹˌɑːfz ɑːɹ dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃt baɪ ðɛɹ ˈɛnɚdʒi sˈoːɹs; fˌoʊɾoʊlˈɪθoʊjˌuːɾətɹˌɑːfz dᵻɹˈaɪv ðɛɹ ˈɛnɚdʒi fɹʌm lˈaɪt wˌaɪl kˌiːmoʊlˈɪθoʊjˌuːɾətɹˌɑːfz kˌiːmoʊlˈɪθətɹˌɑːfz ɔːɹ kˌiːmoʊˈɔːɾətɹˌɑːfz dᵻɹˈaɪv ðɛɹ ˈɛnɚdʒi fɹʌm kˈɛmɪkəl ɹɪˈækʃənz.
Two types of lithoautotrophs are distinguished by their energy source; photolithoautotrophs derive their energy from light while chemolithoautotrophs (chemolithotrophs or chemoautotrophs) derive their energy from chemical reactions.