Meganeura
Meganeura is a genus of extinct insects from the Late Carboniferous (approximately 300 million years ago), which resembled and are related to the present-day dragonflies and damselflies. With wingspans ranging from 65 cm (25.6 in) to over 70 cm (28 in),[1][2] M. monyi is one of the largest-known flying insect species. Meganeura were predatory, with their diet mainly consisting of other insects. Meganeura belongs to the Meganeuridae, a family including other similarly giant dragonfly-like insects ranging from the Late Carboniferous to Middle Permian.
Wing venation of Meganeura monyi, redrawn after Brongniart (1893, Pl. XLI)
Fossils we...read more