Meganeura

Meet this animal

When it lived

Late Carboniferous (about 300 million years ago)

Fossil discovery regions

Europe (Commentry, France)

Size

0.7 metres

Diet

Meat-eater

Classification

Giant griffinfly

Meganeura was a giant extinct griffinfly related to modern dragonflies, but it was not a true modern dragonfly. Late Carboniferous fossils from Commentry, France, indicate a wingspan of about 70 centimetres, and the wing veins preserved in the type specimen guide the four-wing reconstruction. Strong spines on the legs of close relatives suggest that they could bring all six legs together as a basket for catching prey in the air, but little of Meganeura's complete body is preserved. Its yellow-and-black colour, translucent wing membranes, exact vein branches, number of leg spines and wing beats are cautious artistic reconstructions guided by the evidence.