Meganeura

prehistoric · giant insects · carboniferous · flying

Ancient giant insect. Meganeura lived during the Late Carboniferous period, around 300 million years ago, long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Massive wingspan. Unlike today's dragonflies, Meganeura had a wingspan of about 65 centimeters (about 2 feet), making it one of the largest flying insects ever to exist.

Dragonfly cousin. Meganeura belonged to an extinct order called Meganisoptera, which resembled modern dragonflies and damselflies but were far bigger and more powerful.

Carboniferous skies. These giant insects flew through ancient forests filled with giant ferns and early trees, hunting smaller insects in the humid air of that prehistoric world.

Only one species remains. Scientists once named many different species of Meganeura, but today only one is considered real, called M. monyi, which is the original type species.