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Meganeura

Say it: MEG-uh-NYOO-ruh

Name means: “large vein or nerve”1

Ate: MeatPrehistoric legendsPaleozoic, before the dinosaursNot a dinosaur, but a prehistoric legend

Meganeura was a giant dragonfly-like insect that lived about 300 million years ago. It had a wingspan as wide as a small bird and was one of the biggest flying insects ever. It hunted other insects in open forests and near lakes.1 2

This one is not a dinosaur, but it is one of the most famous animals of prehistoric times, so it gets a place in Dino Wiki too.

Lived

304 to 299 million years ago3

Paleozoic, before the dinosaurs

Fossils found in

Commentry, France1 3

Food

Meat1 2

Length

0.6 to 0.75 m1

body length estimate

Wingspan

0.65 to 0.75 m1

Weight

0.0178 kg to 0.15 kg1

When did it live?

Before the dinosaurs

Age of dinosaurs

Age of mammals

400 million years ago25266today

How big was it?

How long was it?

How heavy was it?

as heavy as 1 bananas

as long as 4 bananas end to endlighter than a house cat

How big was Meganeura compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

cool stuff

Fun facts

Meganeura's wingspan was about 65 to 75 centimetres (2.1 to 2.5 feet), bigger than any dragonfly alive today.1

Its huge compound eyes met along the top of its head, giving it excellent vision to spot prey against the sky.1 2

Meganeura was a 'hawker' that patrolled open areas and above the treetops, not a fast zigzag flyer through dense forests.2

Its legs had large spines that formed a 'flying trap' to grab insects in mid-air.1

Scientists think Meganeura spent a lot of time perching because its large body made breathing difficult during flight.1

The first Meganeura fossil was found in a coal mine in Commentry, France, in 1880.1

Only one species of Meganeura is considered valid today: Meganeura monyi.1

AI-made picture of Meganeura — An AI-made picture of how Meganeura might have looked, made by a computer from what scientists know. It is a guess: the real animal may have looked different, and nobody knows its true colours.

you asked

Most asked questions about Meganeura

?How big was Meganeura?

Meganeura had a wingspan of about 65 to 75 centimetres (2.1 to 2.5 feet) and a body length up to 43 centimetres (1.4 feet). It was one of the largest flying insects ever.1 4

?Could Meganeura fly fast?

No, it could not make sudden direction changes like modern dragonflies. It was a 'hawker' that patrolled open areas and above treetops, flying steadily rather than zigzagging.1 2

?What did Meganeura eat?

Meganeura was a predator that ate other insects. It used large spines on its legs to trap prey in mid-air, like a flying trap.1 4

?Is Meganeura a dinosaur?

No, Meganeura is not a dinosaur. It was a giant dragonfly-like insect that lived about 300 million years ago, long before dinosaurs evolved.1

?When did Meganeura live?

Meganeura lived during the Late Carboniferous period, about 300 million years ago.1

?Why was Meganeura so big?

Scientists think the high oxygen levels in the Carboniferous air may have helped it grow so large, but they are not sure. Another idea is that there were no big flying predators back then.1

?Did Meganeura have good eyesight?

Yes, it had huge compound eyes that met along the top of its head, giving it excellent vision to spot prey against the sky.1 2

?Where was Meganeura found?

The first Meganeura fossil was found in a coal mine in Commentry, France, in 1880.1

?How much did Meganeura weigh?

Estimates vary a lot, from about 18 grams (0.04 pounds) up to 100 to 150 grams (0.22 to 0.33 pounds). Scientists are not sure of the exact weight.1

?Could Meganeura swim?

No, Meganeura was a flying insect that lived near water but did not swim. It probably perched on plants and patrolled open areas for prey.1 2

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Myth buster

Myth: Meganeura could fly as fast and agile as modern dragonflies.

Truth: Meganeura could not make sharp turns like modern dragonflies because its wings lacked certain joints. It was a slower, gliding hunter.1 2

For dino experts

Scientific name: Meganeura
Named by: Brongniart 18855
Group: Prehistoric legends
Family / clade: Meganeuridae5
Classification: Insecta > Meganisoptera > Meganeuridae5
Age of the rocks: 304 to 299 million years (Gzhelian)5
Rock formations: Commentry Shales5
Countries: France5
Fossil records: 7 in the Paleobiology Database5
Discovery: French paleontologist Charles Brongniart named Meganeura in 1885 after studying fossils from Commentry, France. The first fossil was found in 1880.1 3
Still debated: Scientists are still unsure exactly how heavy Meganeura was, with estimates ranging from 18 grams to 150 grams.1

Where the facts come from

Meganeura (en.wikipedia.org)
Palaeozoic giant dragonflies were hawker predators | Scientific Reports (nature.com)
PBDB Taxon (paleobiodb.org)
Griffinflies: The earliest flying insects (nhm.ac.uk)
Meganeura in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.

Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are dino fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

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