Meganeura monyi

Overview

Meganeura was a giant dragonfly-like insect that ruled the skies during the Carboniferous period, approximately 300 million years ago! With a wingspan of up to 70 cm (28 inches)—about the size of a modern hawk—it was one of the largest flying insects ever to exist. Imagine a dragonfly the size of a bird swooping through ancient swamp forests!

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Taxonomy & Classification

• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Meganisoptera (griffinflies)
• Family: Meganeuridae
• Diet: Carnivorous

Despite looking like a dragonfly, Meganeura belonged to a related but extinct group called griffinflies.

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Physical Characteristics

Impressive Size

• Wingspan: Up to 70 cm (28 inches)
• Body length: 30-40 cm (12-16 inches)
• Weight: Estimated 150-450 grams
• Comparison: Wingspan similar to a crow!

Anatomy

• Four large wings with intricate veining
• Huge compound eyes for hunting
• Strong mandibles to catch prey
• Long segmented abdomen
• Six spiny legs for grabbing prey mid-flight

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Why So Big?

The Oxygen Theory

Meganeura grew so large because of high oxygen levels:

• Carboniferous atmosphere had 35% oxygen (today: 21%)
• Insects breathe through tubes called tracheae
• More oxygen = larger bodies possible
• This is the leading explanation for giant insects

The Giant Insect Era

The Carboniferous was the age of giant insects:

• Giant dragonflies (Meganeura)
• Giant millipedes (Arthropleura)
• Giant cockroaches
• Giant scorpions

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Hunting & Diet

Aerial Predator

Meganeura was a fierce hunter:

• Caught prey in mid-flight
• Ate other insects
• May have eaten small amphibians
• Used excellent vision to spot prey
• Could fly at high speeds

Hunting Style

• Ambush predator from perches
• Pursuit hunter in open air
• Grabbed prey with spiny legs
• Crushed victims with strong mandibles

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Habitat

Carboniferous Swamps

Meganeura lived in:

• Coal swamp forests
• Areas with giant ferns and horsetails
• Warm, humid tropical climate
• Near water for breeding

These ancient forests eventually became coal deposits!

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Discovery

First Fossils

• Discovered in 1880 in France
• Named by Charles Brongniart in 1885
• Fossils found in Commentry, France
• Also found in England
• Beautifully preserved wing impressions

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Not Actually a Dragonfly!

Griffinflies vs Dragonflies

Meganeura was a griffinfly, not a true dragonfly:

• Griffinflies are an extinct order
• Related to but different from modern dragonflies
• Had different wing vein patterns
• Lived before true dragonflies evolved

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Extinction

End of the Giants

Giant insects disappeared because:

• Oxygen levels dropped after the Carboniferous
• Birds evolved and competed for food
• Climate changed from tropical to drier
• Could no longer support such large bodies

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Cool Facts

• Meganeura had a 70 cm wingspan—as wide as a small child's arm span!
• It lived when oxygen was 35% of the atmosphere (vs 21% today)
• Despite its size, it was a skilled flier
• Not actually a dragonfly—it was a griffinfly
• The Carboniferous period is named after coal (carbon) from these forests
• Meganeura fossils show incredible wing detail
• It was the apex aerial predator of its time
• Could have caught and eaten animals the size of frogs

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Meganeura shows us a time when giant insects ruled the skies—a world so different from ours that dragonfly-like creatures grew to the size of hawks!