Meganeura

Meganeura (Ancient Greek: μέγα (large) + νευρόν (vein or nerve)) is a genus of extinct insects from the Late Carboniferous (approximately 300 million years ago). It is a member of the extinct order Meganisoptera (also known as griffenflies), which are closely related to and resemble dragonflies and damselflies (with dragonflies, damselflies and meganisopterans being part of the broader group Odonatoptera). While various species of Meganeura have been named, only one is now considered valid: the type species, M. monyi.

Fossils of Meganeura were first discovered in Late Carboniferous (Stephanian) Coal Measures of Commentry, France, in 1880. In 1884, French paleontologist Charles Brongniart described the type specimen and assigned it to the genus Dictyoneura. The following year, he assigned it to a genus of its own, Meganeura, a name which refers to the network of veins on the insect's wings. Several specimens have been discovered since, though all are poorly preserved and some have been reassigned to other genera. All valid specimens of Meganeura are housed in the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. The genus belongs to the Meganeuridae, a family including other similarly giant dragonfly-like insects ranging from the Late Carboniferous to Middle Permian. Despite being the iconic "giant dragonfly", fossils of Meganeura are poorly preserved in comparison to most of its relatives.