The head of Moinodaphnia is prominently arched above, angled forward with a slight beak-like structure behind it. Its antennules, similar to those of Moina, are long and movable. The antennae feature a long, unjointed spine on the apical joint of the four-jointed ramus. The body is quadrate, with slight angles above, and the post-abdomen is elongated, bearing bifid spines characteristic of Moina. Additionally, it possesses two evident processes on top for closing the brood sac. Distinguishing features of Moinodaphnia from Moina include the presence of an ocellus, distinctive setation on the second antennae, and a well-developed fold on the abdomen to seal off the brood pouch. Females are laterally flattened, and the dorsal margin of the shell has a sharp keel. The second antennae are notably characterized by the distal segment of the exopod, which bears four relatively short setae instead of the usual three long setae. This is due to the elongation of the lateral spine of this segment and the coincidental shortening of the three swimming setae. In sexual females, the ephippium covers a significant portion of the shell but is heavily reticulated only over a small area directly over the egg locule. There are a few protuberant cells primarily located at the center of the shell. Typically, only one sexual egg is deposited in the ephippium.