The Meganeura (Meganeura Monyi) By:

Vocabulary Meganeura: (meg-a-nyur-a) A species of giant dragonfly that lived in the late Carboniferous Period. Griffinfly: (griff-in-fly)A giant dragonfly. Vertebrates: (ver-ta-brays) Animals with backbones. (Includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.) Carboniferous Period: (car-bon-if-er-us) A period in Earth’s history that lasted from about 359 to 299 million years ago. It’s known for the rich layers of coal that formed during the period.

When & Where it Lived Lived in the late Carboniferous period1 Known to have lived in Western Europe1 Known locations: Commentry, France and Derbyshire, England 1

Appearance Looked very similar to a dragonfly1 Had a wingspan of 70-75 cm (2.5 feet!)2 Long, slender body 4 Round eyes 4

Diet and Behavior Carnivore 1 Ate insects, small amphibians, vertebrates 2 Hunted the same way dragonflies do today 3 Used legs to capture prey 5 Legs were covered in small spines so prey couldn’t escape 5 Lived near edges of small bodies of water 2

Are Meganeura Related to Dragonflies? Similar in appearance 5 Classified as a griffinfly 1 Probably almost as fast as dragonflies, but were a bit clumsier due to their size 2 Different vein patterns in their wings 2 Largest present-day dragonfly is 7.5 in. Dragonfly VS Meganeura

Why Did the Meganeura Become Extinct? Scientists aren’t completely sure 6 Increased oxygen = Eventual oxygen decrease 6 Possible that there just wasn’t enough oxygen anymore 6

Annotated Bibliography 1 Prehistoric Wildlife. http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/m/meganeura.html Prehistoric Wildlife is a website established in 2011 featuring articles and news about discoveries for prehistoric species Credibility Score: 7 Website’s information is accurate, but there’s no sources cited or organizations supporting it. 2 Evolution of Life. http://facweb.furman.edu/~wworthen/bio440/evolweb/carboniferous/mega.htm Website is run and produced by the Population Genetics and Evolution class at Furman University, a college in South Carolina. Credibility Score: 8 Information is accurate when compared with other sources, and the site is run by a class at a university. 3 About.com. http://insects.about.com/od/dragonfliesanddamselflies/f/What-Do-Dragonflies-Eat.htm About.com features articles on anything you need to know, written by experts in the field. Credibility Score: 9 Articles are clear, helpful, and are written by experts on the subject. 4 Encyclopedia of Life (EOL). http://eol.org/pages/10511703/details Encyclopedia of Life provides information on anything relating to the Earth and life on Earth through a freely accessible and trusted digital resource. Credibility Score: 9 EOL is supported by trusted institutions such as Harvard University, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. 5 wiseGEEK. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-meganeura.htm wiseGEEK is a website run by a team of researchers, writers, and editors that provides clear, simple answers to common questions online. Credibility Score: 8 The website looks good and the articles are accurate, but the writers aren’t experts on the topics and sources aren’t cited. 6 Ask A Biologist. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/big-big-bugs Ask A Biologist is a Safe Surf Site dedicated to being a reliable learning tool for biology. Credibility Score: 9 Site s reliable, and funded in part by The National Science Foundation and NSDL.