Meganeura

Meganeura Temporal range: Kasimovian-Gzhelian, 305–299 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
M. monyi specimen MNHN R52938 which was originally attributed to different genus Meganeurella
M. monyi specimen LdLAP 392
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Division:	Palaeoptera
Superorder:	Odonatoptera
Order:	†Meganisoptera
Family:	†Meganeuridae
Genus:	†Meganeura Brongniart, 1885
Species
†Meganeura brongniarti †Meganeura monyi †Meganeura vischerae

Meganeura is a genus of extinct insects from the Late Carboniferous (approximately 300 million years ago). They resembled and are related to the present-day dragonflies and damselflies, and were predatory, with their diet mainly consisting of other insects. The genus belongs to the Meganeuridae, a family including other similarly giant dragonfly-like insects ranging from the Late Carboniferous to Middle Permian. With single wing length reaching 32 centimetres (13 in)^[1] and a wingspan about 65–75 cm (2.13–2.46 ft),^[2][3][4] M. monyi is one of the largest-known flying insect species.

Fossils of Meganeura were first discovered in Late Carboniferous (Stephanian) Coal Measures of Commentry, France in 1880. In 1885, French paleontologist Charles Brongniart described and named the fossil "Meganeura" (great-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.^[5]