AbstractBased on 96 grab samples at 16 sites the composition and distribution of macrobenthic fauna were examined in a small coastal basin of lower Chesapeake Bay. Normal classification analysis of dominant species produced five site groups. Site groups were divided into clean sand sites, fine sand sites with varying amounts of silt‐clay, and mud sites. Dominant species of the clean group were primarily restricted to this sediment type, while the dominant species of the other groups were widespread in the study are