Bacteria in the SAR202 clade (phylum Chloroflexota) are ubiquitous in the world’s oceans. Ancient expansion of catabolic enzyme paralogs in these bacteria may have broadened their spectrum of oxidizable organic compounds, thereby transforming the Earth’s carbon cycle. However, SAR202 bacteria have not yet been cultured in the laboratory, which has prevented in-depth research. To address this issue, researchers recently attempted to culture SAR202 from surface seawater with the dilution-to-extinction technique. They successfully cultured the bacteria and found that they grew very slowly. In addition, their growth was inhibited by light. The genomes of SAR202 (~3.08 Mbp) encoded archaeal motility structures called archaella as well as multiple sets of enzyme paralogs. Specifically, 80 genes encoded enolase superfamily enzymes, and 44 genes encoded NAD(P)-dependent dehydrogenases, suggesting that SAR202 bacteria may use multiple parallel pathways for non-phosphorylative sugar and sugar acid catabolism. Growth experiments confirmed that SAR202 strains can utilize several substrates that are metabolized through the predicted pathways, including the sugars L-fucose and L-rhamnose and their lactone and acid forms. Although more work is needed, this study is a landmark in SAR202 research that provides a successful culture method and much-needed metabolic information about a widespread and influential marine clade.