Thirteen strains of endospore-forming bacteria were isolated from geothermal soils at Cryptogam Ridge, the north-west slope of Mt Melbourne, and at the vents and summit of Mt Rittmann in northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. 16S rRNA gene sequencing, SDS-PAGE and routine phenotypic characterization tests indicated that the seven isolates from the north-west slope of Mt Melbourne represent a novel species of Brevibacillus and that the six isolates from Cryptogam Ridge and the vents and summit of Mt Rittmann represent a novel species of Aneurinibacillus. Brevibacillus strains were not isolated from the sites at Mt Rittmann or Cryptogam Ridge and Aneurinibacillus strains were not isolated from the north-west slope of Mt Melbourne. Preliminary metabolic studies revealed that L-glutamic acid, although not essential for growth, was utilized by both species. The Brevibacillus species possessed an uptake system specific for L-glutamic acid, whereas the Aneurinibacillus species possessed a more general uptake system capable of transporting other related amino acids. Both species utilized a K(+) antiport system and similar energy systems for the uptake of l-glutamic acid. The rate of uptake by the Brevibacillus species type strain was 20-fold greater than that shown by the Aneurinibacillus species type strain. The names Brevibacillus levickii sp. nov. and Aneurinibacillus terranovensis sp. nov. are proposed for the novel taxa; the type strains are Logan B-1657(T) (= LMG 22481(T) = CIP 108307(T)) and Logan B-1599(T) (LMG 22483(T) = CIP 108308(T)), respectively.