Meganeura fossil map
Where fossils of Meganeura have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 300 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 300 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Giant insects & arthropods |
|---|---|
| Lived | 303.7–298.9 million years ago (Gzhelian) |
| Periods | Carboniferous |
| Family | Meganeuridae |
| Named by | Brongniart 1885 |
| Fossil records | 7 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | France |
| Rock formations | Commentry Shales |
About Meganeura
Meganeura (Ancient Greek: μέγα (large) + νευρόν (vein or nerve)) is a genus of extinct insects from the Late Carboniferous (about 300 million years ago). It is a member of the extinct order Meganisoptera (also known as griffenflies), which 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.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Meganeura (revision 1374813430), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in.
