A new species of flexibacterium, Saprospira toviformis, is described. It was isolated from marine littoral sand from New Zealand. It differs from S. grandis Gross by its more yellow color, more sluggish motility, and a number of minor physiological features. The content of guanine and cytosine, in the DNA of S. toviformis is 38% (as molar percent); the corresponding value for S. grandis is 48%.