Lactobacillus salivarius group biovars VIa and VIb, which are homofermentative Lactobacillus, were predominantly isolated from canine feces. Identification and biotyping of L.salivarius group biovars VIa and VIb were originally done by Mitsuoka et al. (1976). These strains were tentatively identified as L.salivarius by their phenotypic characteristics. They are, however, more similar to those of some new Lactobacillus species, particularly L.animalis and L.murinus, than those of L.salivarius and have now been identified as L.animalis by DNA-DNA homology.