Studies　have　reported　that　various　hydrocarbons　and　hydrocarbon-degrading　bacteria　are　found　in　global　deepsea　hydrothermal　regions.　However,　little　is　known　about　degradation　characteristics　of　culturable　hydrocarbondegrading　bacteria　from　these　regions.　We　speculate　that　these　bacteria　can　be　used　as　resources　for　the　bioremediation　of　oil　pollution.　In　this　study,　six　oil-degrading　consortia　were　obtained　from　the　hydrothermal　region　of　the　Southern　Mid-Atlantic　Ridge　through　room-temperature　enrichment　experiments.　The　dominant　oil-degrading　bacteria　belonged　to　Nitratireductor,　Pseudonocardia,　Brevundimonas　and　Acinetobacter.　More　varieties　of　hydrocarbon-degrading　bacteria　were　obtained　from　sediments　(preserved　at　4　degrees　C)　near　hydrothermal　vents.　Most　strains　had　the　ability　to　degrade　high　molecular　weight　petroleum　components.　In　addition,　Pseudonocardia　was　shown　to　exhibit　a　high　degradation　ability　for　phytane　and　pristine　for　the　first　time.　This　study　may　provide　new　insights　into　the　community　structure　and　biodiversity　of　culturable　oil-degrading　bacteria　in　deep-sea　hydrothermal　regions.