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 were discovered in the French Stephanian Coal Measures of Commentry in 1880. In 1885, French paleontologist Charles Brongniart described and named the fossil "Meganeura" (large-nerved), which refers to the network of veins on the insect's wings. Another fine fossil specimen was found in 1979 at Bolsover in Derbyshire. The holotype is housed in the National Museum of Natural History, in Paris. Despite being the iconic "giant dragonfly", fossils of Meganeura are poorly preserved in comparison to other meganeurids.[3]
Meganeura has been suggested to play 81 roles. Click below to see other actors suggested for each role, and vote for who you think would play the role best.
