Organism · Insects
Meganeura monyi
Fossil record age bounds · ≈ 304–299 Ma
Inferred life reconstruction
Meganeura monyi
Overview
Meganeura monyi is a giant flying insect described as having a wingspan of about 70cm. It is an ancient relative of the group leading to dragonflies and damselflies. Its broad wings are striking enough to bring small living birds to mind.[3][1]
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Key facts
A coal-mining site brought this insect to the world’s attention. Fossils from Commentry in France revealed enormous ancient wings. Rocks from a mine conveyed the story of an organism from a vanished sky.[3]
Time and place
It is a Late Carboniferous insect from around 300 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered at Commentry in present-day France. It is a representative animal encountered when exploring Carboniferous forests and giant arthropods together.[3][2]
The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.
Size, form and skeleton
The body has two pairs of long membranous wings, a segmented abdomen, and three pairs of thoracic legs. The figure of about 70cm refers to the distance between the two wingtips, not body length. Looking at the outstretched wings together with the slender body reveals its overall proportions.[3][1]
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Habitat and reproduction
It is interpreted as a hunter with large jaws. Structures of the wings and legs are used to study the lives of Paleozoic flying insects. Comparing it with giant land-dwelling arthropods suggests that animals of the same period used several different living spaces.[4][1][2]
Fossil discovery
Fossils discovered at the coal-mining site in Commentry became evidence for this giant insect. The French natural history museum introduces a fossil with collection number MNHN-F-R51142. Discovery at a mine and preservation in a museum connect the story of an ancient insect.[3][1]
References
Research questions
How did such a large insect fly and find food? Researchers compare structures preserved in its wings and legs with those of other Paleozoic insects. Looking for similarities to dragonflies as well as differences reveals the long history of flying insects.[1][4]
Observation
After looking at one pair of long wings, move your gaze to the other pair behind them and the segmented abdomen. Distinguishing wingspan from body length gives a clearer sense of the giant insect’s actual proportions.[3][1]
Related organisms
Arthropleura armataArthropodsSource time context (not species duration) · ≈ 359–299 MaCarboniferous sky and land
Meganeura is a giant winged insect, while Arthropleura is a giant land-dwelling arthropod. Comparing these two representative Carboniferous bodies reveals animals using different living spaces.