[Object] To provide a canthaxanthin selective producing bacterium being able to easily extract and purify canthaxanthin, which is one of carotenoids, and a method for producing canthaxanthin by a culture method.[Solving Means] A carotenoid producing bacterium belonging to the genus Paracoccus is provided which selectively produces canthaxanthin so that the amount thereof is not less than 90 percent by weight of the total amount of produced carotenoids including β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, echinenone, canthaxanthin, 3-hydroxyechinenone, 3′-hydroxyechinenone, zeaxanthin, phoenicoxanthin, adonixanthin, and astaxanthin. In addition, a method for producing canthaxanthin is provided which has the steps of culturing the above bacterium, and then collecting carotenoids from bacterial cells or a culture solution after the culturing.