Strain DRJ-4(T) was isolated from forest soil of a low-altitude mountain and was taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach. This strain was yellow-colored, Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, non-sporulating, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, and rod-shaped. Strain DRJ-4(T) was able to grow at 20-42 degrees C, pH 6.5-10.0, and 0-1.0% (w/v) NaCl concentration. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DRJ-4(T) formed a distinct lineage within the members of the family Sphingomonadaceae of the phylum Proteobacteria and moderately related to Sphingomonas faucium E62-3(T) (96.67% sequence similarity), `Sphingosinicella ginsenosidimutans' BS11 (96.45% sequence similarity), Sphingosinicella vermicomposti YC7378(T) (96.27% sequence similarity), and Sphingobium boeckii 469(T) (95.82% sequence similarity). The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10 and the major polyamine was homospermidine. The polar lipid profile revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphati-dylmonomethylethanolamine, and sphingoglycolipid. The predominant fatty acids of strain DRJ-4(T) were summed feature 8 (C-18:1 omega 7C and/or C-18:1 omega 6C), summed feature 3 (C-16:1 omega 7C and/or C-16:1 omega 6C), C-16(:0), and C-17:1 omega 6C. The genomic DNA G +C was 64.0 mol %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic analysis, strain DRJ-4(T) represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas montis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Sphingomonas montis is DRJ-4(T) (=KEMB 9005-708(T) =NBRC 113142(T)).