Naiadita

Naiadita is a genus of extinct ostracods (seed shrimp) belonging to the order Podocopida. These small crustaceans are primarily known from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous periods. Fossils assigned to Naiadita have been found in freshwater and brackish water deposits, indicating they inhabited inland aquatic environments.

The carapace (shell) of Naiadita ostracods is typically smooth or weakly ornamented and varies in shape depending on the species, but is generally elongate-ovate to subrectangular. Important characteristics used to differentiate species within the genus include the size and shape of the carapace, the presence or absence of specific features like marginal spines, and the details of the internal structures visible in well-preserved specimens.

Naiadita and related ostracod genera are important microfossils for biostratigraphy, paleoecology, and paleogeography. Their presence and distribution can provide insights into the age, environmental conditions, and geographical connections of the sedimentary rocks in which they are found. Studies of Naiadita have contributed to understanding the evolution and diversification of freshwater ostracods during the Mesozoic Era.