Meganeura

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Superorder: Odonatoptera

Order: Protodonata

Family: Meganeuridae

Genus: Meganeura

The Carboniferous insect genus Meganeura was the giant forms of today's dragonflies, with a wingspan of 75 cm they are one of the largest flying insects known. There are many theories on way gigantism existed the prevailing theory is that do to the high oxygen content in the atmosphere the limit put on insects size by its tracheal breathing system would have not have been an issue. The fore and hind wings in Meganeura are similar in venation except for the back of the hind wings, and unlike their modern relatives there are pterostigma present. They had large mandibles a large thorax and a long slender abdomen.