Abstract The species composition, distribution and generations of the thaliacea in relation to the sea surface temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a were studied in the Koaping coastal waters, southwestern Taiwan, from June 2001 to October 2002. In all, 16 species of the thaliacea belonging to 3 families and 11 genera were identified. Among these, Doliolum denticulatum was the most dominant species and comprised 62.2% of the numerical total of thaliacea, other common species including: Thalia orientalis (22.8%), Thalia democratica (7.5%), Thalia rhomboids (2.4%) and Dolioliletta gegenbauri (2.3%). The mean numerical abundance of thaliacea was 690.6 1601.4 ind./100m3. Most species showed apparently seasonal changes, with the highest abundance in March 2002 and the lowest was in November 2001. Higher abundances of thaliacea were generally found in the 100m oblique tows when compared with the surface tows, except in March and October 2002 that bulk abundances were found in the surface waters. The variation of thaliacean species composition and abundance among stations and mouths was larger in 2002 than in 2001. Higher similarity in community structure of thaliacea was found between August and November 2001, while larger variations among stations were found in March and July 2002. In general, the abundance of thaliacea species showed significantly negative correlation with water temperature but significantly positive correlations with salinity and chlorophyll a. Blastozooid(phorozooids and gonozooids) of the Doliolum denticulatum and Dolioletta gegenburia dominated in the study area and comprised 99.2% of total doliolids. Blastozooid(gonozooids) was also dominated in Salpida species and comprised 84.3% of total Salpida, except Thalia rhomboids that blastozooid occupied only 40.1%.