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Meganeura is a genus of extinct insects from the Late Carboniferous (approximately 300 million years ago). It is a member of the extinct order Meganisoptera, which are closely related to and resemble dragonflies and damselflies (with dragonflies, damselflies and meganisopterans being part of the broader group Odonatoptera).
Meganisoptera is an extinct order of large dragonfly-like insects, informally known as griffenflies or (incorrectly) as giant dragonflies. The order was formerly named Protodonata , the "proto-Odonata", for their similar appearance and supposed relation to modern Odonata ( damselflies and dragonflies ).
Dragonflies and their relatives are similar in structure to an ancient group, ... About 3,012 species of dragonflies were known in 2010; ...
The ancient critters, which developed some 300 million years ago and are among our planet's oldest insects, prey on bothersome mosquitos, with some dragonflies able to consume hundreds of the ...
Most were only slightly larger than modern dragonflies, but the group does include the largest known insects, such as griffinflies like the late Carboniferous Meganeura monyi, and the even larger later Permian Meganeuropsis permiana, with wingspans of up to 71 cm (2 ft 4 in).
The petaltails of the family Petaluridae are among the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies (infraorder Anisoptera), [2] having fossil members from as early as the Jurassic, over 150 million years ago. A 2024 molecular phylogeny found that the petaltails comprise two clades, a Gondwanan clade and a Laurasian clade.
Aeschnidiids were widespread and could be found on nearly every continent on Earth. They were most diverse during the Early Cretaceous before completely disappearing at the end of the Maastrichtian. Many members of this family were large dragonflies, with wing lengths ranging from 35 to 45 mm. [1]
The largest wingspan of any living species of odonate (the order that includes dragonflies and damselflies) belongs to Megaloprepus caerulatus, reaching 19 centimeters (7.5 inches) in wingspan. Petalura ingentissima has the largest wingspan of any dragonfly at 165 mm (6.5 in), although Tetracanthagyna plagiata comes in with a close second of ...