Random Facts About 'Meganeura' That Was A Prehistoric Dragonfly With A Two-Foot Wingspan (13 items)

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  (#13) Meganeura Wasn't The Only Enormous Prehistoric Insect 

  Many extraordinarily large insects coexisted with Meganeura. Higher oxygen levels during the Carboniferous and Permian periods, which stretched from 360 million years ago to 250 million years ago, gave prehistoric critters the opportunity to grow exponentially.

  While Meganeura was the largest flying insect, a sea scorpion grew to 8 feet. And Arthropleura, a prehistoric millipede, rose to a size of 6 feet. 
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  (#10) Some Theorize It Went Extinct Because Of Atmospheric Changes

  Scientists believe a higher concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere let insects grow larger in the past. Researchers found a direct connection between oxygen levels and wingspans for over 10,000 fossilized insects spanning the past 320 million years. 

  Many of the biggest insects were lost during the Permian period, around 250 million years ago. The Permian Extinction wiped out 90% of species on Earth. It also coincided with a change in the Earth's atmosphere which saw oxygen levels decline.

  One study suggested Meganeura might have been sluggish and underperforming in the thinner air; newer, faster species might have driven it to its end. 
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  (#2) It Had Sharp Teeth And Ate Meat

  Meganeura hunted in an era before birds and bats existed. The species grew strong mandibles that gripped and carried prey. These appendages were toothed, making them even more formidable.

  The giant prehistoric dragonfly hunted similarly to modern dragonflies, but it was large enough to prey on much bigger creatures.
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  (#1) It Was About A Quarter Of The Size Of An Average Human

  About the size of an eagle, Meganeura was one of the biggest insects in history. It had a wingspan of nearly 2.5 feet. Even the common name for Meganeura points to its size - rather than calling Meganeura a dragonfly, scientists dubbed it a "griffinfly." 

  The massive wingspan of the prehistoric creature stretched wider than most adult men today and taller than some toddlers. 
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  (#3) It Hunted Frogs And Newts

  Meganeura ruled the skies 300 million years ago. While it hunted small insects, it also ate larger creatures, like frogs and newts.

  At the time, these amphibians were still acclimating to a more terrestrial lifestyle. That shift made it easier for Meganeura to trace them.
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  (#4) It Lived In Fern Jungles Before The Dinosaurs

  Meganeura lived during the Carboniferous period. The species thrived in the humid wetlands, and larval Meganeura lived in the water. During its juvenile phase, Meganeura preyed on aquatic insects and even fish. A strong jaw helped the prehistoric dragonfly hunt in the water and from the air. 

  Giant insects like Meganeura dominated the Earth for millions of years before the dinosaurs.

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