Strain S04009T, a Gram-stain-positive, coagulase-negative staphylococcus was isolated from bovine mastitis in France. 16S rDNA analysis revealed it to be closely related to the coagulase-negative species; Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus caeli and Staphylococcus edaphicus. At the whole genome level, S04009T had an average nucleotide identity of < 95% and an inferred DNA–DNA hybridization of < 70 % when compared to these species. Furthermore, phenotypic characteristics distinguished S04009T from those species. From these related species only S04009T and S. xylosus are able to ferment xylose and these two can be distinguished by the inability of S04009T to express urease activity. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic results, it is proposed that this isolate is a novel species, with the name Staphylococcus pseudoxylosus sp. nov. The type strain is S04009T (=DSM 107950T= CCUG 72763T=NCTC 14184T).