A polychaete new for the Baltic Sea was recorded during routine sampling in the Darss‐Zingst bodden chain (Southern Baltic) in 1985. It was identified as Marenzelleria viridis (Verrill, 1873). Since 1987, the species has been numerous in this estuary, with densities up to 740 ind. X m−2. In April 1988, its expansion into the oligohaline parts of the bodden chain was recorded. The species inhabits sandy and muddy sediments. No relationship between abundance and type of sediment could be found. The most important taxonomic characters of this polychaete are described and figured. 8 scanning electron micrographs complete the diagnosis. An identification key to the 13 spionid polychaetes known from the Baltic Sea is presented.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.