A novel actinobacterium, strain ZYX- F - 186( T) , was isolated from marine sediment sampled on Yongxing Island, Hainan Province, PR China. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain ZYX- F - 186(T) belongs to the genus Phytohabitans , with high similarity to Phytohabitans kaempferiae KK1-3(T) (98.3 %), Phytohabitans rumicis K11 -0047(T) (98.1 %), Phytohabitans flavus K09 -0627(T) (98.1 %), Phytohabitans houttuyneae K11 -0057(T) (97.9 %), Phytohabitans suffuscus K07 -0523(T) (97.7 %), and Phytohabitans aurantiacus RD004123(T) (97.7 %). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain formed a single subclade in the genus Phytohabitans . The novel isolate contained meso -diaminopimelic acid, o- glutamic acid, glycine, o-alanine, and l - lysine in the cell wall. The whole - cell sugars were xylose, arabinose, ribose, and rhamnose. The predominant menaquinones were MK- 9(H-8 ), MK -9(H-6 ), and MK- 9(H-4 ). The characteristic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and an unknown phospholipid. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were iso- C 16:0 , anteiso- C 17:0 , and iso- C 18:0 . Genome sequencing showed a DNA G+C content of 71.9 mol%. Low average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, and average amino acid identity values demonstrated that strain ZYX- F - 186(T) could be readily distinguished from its closely related species. Based on its phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and physiological characteristics, strain ZYX-F-186(T) represents a novel species of the genus Phytohabitans , for which the name Phytohabitans maris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZYX- F - 186(T) (=CGMCC 4.8025(T) =CCTCC AA 2023025(T) =JCM 36507(T) ).