The kings and queens of the Carboniferous period were not birds or reptiles, but instead giant insects-specifically, giant dragonflies like Meganeura. This massive insect was the size of an eagle. High above its kingdom, it was nearly invincible, with almost no animals daring to mess with this giant of the skies, and any that could wouldn't be able to reach it.

Basic info

Meaning of name: Meganeura means "large-nerved".

Time of existance: Meganeura lived in the late Carboniferous period, about 311 million years ago.

Diet: Meganeura was a voracious carnivore, and primarily fed on the small reptiles like Petrolacosaurus and smaller arthropods. It was also not about scavenging or stealing food from other arthropods.

Threats: Meganeura had very few genuine threats. However, that doesn't mean it had none. It was at the mercy of the weather, as lightning storms could trigger large dangerous fires. During these storms, Meganeura would also have been forced out of the canopy, which would have allowed it to be easy prey for the giant amphibians like Proterogyrinus.

Size: Meganeura's wingspan was 2.5 feet.

Attributes: Meganeura's large wings allowed it to fly through the canopies and stay safe from most things that would want to make a meal out of it.

Meganeura resting on a large conifer

Appearances in the Walking with... series

Walking with Monsters

Episode 1-Water Dwellers

Meganeura makes a very brief appearance in the opening synopsis, where a swarm of them is seen being attacked by some Proterogyrinus. Meganeura also makes a brief appearance at the very beginning of the credits.

Episode 2-Reptile's Beginnings

A lone Meganeura is first seen flying briefly before the appearance of a Mesothelae. Meganeura appears later in the episode, stealing the carcass of a Petrolacosaurus carcass from the Mesothelae. She flies it to the top of the canopy and begins to feed. However, she is completely unaware of a massive storm approaching in the distance. When the storm finally arrives, a large swarm of Meganeura are forced to seek shelter below, where they are left vulnerable to some amphibians. However, most of the Meganeura escape, and are seen flying above Mesothelae's burrow moments before lightning strikes. The segment ends by stating that the giant arthropods will no longer thrive after the Carboniferous, and Meganeura would disappear alongside her fellow giants.

Meganeura soaring above her kingdom