Meganisoptera

Meganisoptera; Temporal range: Pennsylvanian-Lopingian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Illustration of a Meganeura species
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Superorder:	Odonatoptera
Order:	†Meganisoptera; Martynov, 1932
Families
	Meganeuridae; Paralogidae;
Synonyms
	Protodonata C. Brongniart, 1893;

Meganisoptera is an extinct order of very large to gigantic insects often called griffenflies. The order was formerly named Protodonata for their similar appearance and relation to dragonflies. They range in Palaeozoic (Late Carboniferous to Late Permian) insects, Most were only slightly larger than modern dragonflies and the order includes the largest known insect species such as the late Carboniferous Meganeura monyi, Megatypus, and the even larger early Permian Meganeuropsis permiana, with wingspans of up to 71 centimetres (2.33 ft).^[1]

The fore and hind wings are similar in venation (a primitive feature) except for the larger anal (rearwards) area in the hind wing. The fore wing is usually more slender and slightly longer than the hind wing. Unlike the true dragonflies, they had no pterostigma, and a somewhat simpler pattern of veins in the wings.

Most specimens are known from wing fragments only; with only a few as complete wings, and even fewer (of the family Meganeuridae) with body impressions. These show a globose head with large dentate mandibles, strong spiny legs, a large thorax, and long and slender dragonfly-like abdomen. Like true dragonflies, they were presumably predators.

A few nymphs are also known, and show similar mouthparts to those of modern dragonfly nymphs, suggesting that they were also active aquatic predators.^[2]

Although sometimes included under the dragonflies, the Protodonata lack certain distinctive wing features that characterise the Odonata. Grimaldi and Engel, pointing out that the colloquial term "giant dragonfly" is therefore misleading, suggest "griffinfly" instead.

References

^ Grimaldi & Engel 2005 p.175
^ Hoell, H.V., Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. p. 321. ISBN 0-19-510033-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Carpenter, F. M. 1992. Superclass Hexapoda. Volume 3 of Part R, Arthropoda 4; Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America.
Grimaldi, David and Engel, Michael S. (2005-05-16). Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82149-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
Tasch, Paul, 1973, 1980 Paleobiology of the Invertebrates, John Wiley and Sons, p.617
André Nel, Günther Fleck, Romain Garrouste, Georges Gand, Jean Lapeyrie, Seth M Bybee, and Jakub Prokop (2009): Revision of Permo-Carboniferous griffenflies (Insecta: Odonatoptera: Meganisoptera) based upon new species and redescription of selected poorly known taxa from Eurasia. Palaeontographica Abteilung A, 289(4-6): 89–121.

External links

Phylogenetic Systematics of Odonata by Günter Bechly, 2005

[1] Grimaldi & Engel 2005 p.175

[IIBD-2] Hoell, H.V., Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. p. 321. ISBN 0-19-510033-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[1]

[2]