Naiadites

Naiadites is a genus of extinct crustaceans belonging to the order Diplostraca, and more specifically to the family Leaidae. These small bivalved arthropods lived during the Late Carboniferous and Permian periods.

Naiadites shells, or carapaces, are typically small, ranging from a few millimeters to around a centimeter in length. They are characterized by their oval to sub-oval shape and the presence of growth lines, which indicate stages of growth. The surface of the carapace can be smooth or ornamented with fine ridges or pustules, depending on the species. The hinge line is generally straight and without teeth.

Fossils of Naiadites are found in freshwater or brackish water deposits, such as coal swamps and lacustrine sediments. Their presence is often used as an indicator of these types of environments in paleoecological studies. They are common in regions that were once part of the supercontinent Pangaea, including Europe and North America.

The precise phylogenetic relationships within the Leaidae and the exact species distinctions within Naiadites have been subject to some debate among paleontologists. Further research is needed to fully resolve the evolutionary history of this genus.