Based on collections of benthic ostracodes during the 15 month period (October 1976--December 1977 from three selected stations in the shallow Balacheruvu tidal stream on the east coast of India, quantitative variations in different species of ostracodes have been studied in relation to water characteristics such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity and sedimentological characteristics like sand, silt, clay and organic matter content.Keywords. Benthic ostracodes of shallow waters ; east coast of India; quantitative seasonal variations.