Coccus

round prokaryote cells

A coccus (plural of cocci) is a bacterium that is shaped like a sphere or circle. Cocci are one of the three types of bacteria shapes. The word coccus comes from the Greek word kokkos, or "berry".

Some examples of cocci are Abiotrophia, Enterococcus, Neisseria, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus.

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  • Bacillus (one of the other two types of bacteria shapes)
  • Spirillum (the other shape of bacteria)