Why did the dragonflies of the Carboniferous period eventually vanish?
In short: Three hundred million years ago, insects reached monstrous proportions. This video explores why these giants—some as large as humans—gradually shrank and ultimately faced extinction.
For decades, scientists hypothesized that a drop in atmospheric oxygen after the Carboniferous period was the primary cause of insect miniaturization. Because insects lack lungs and rely on microscopic body holes for oxygenation, lower levels would theoretically suffocate them or paralyze their limbs.
However, 2009 fossil discoveries of Meganeura in Southern France showed these giants survived oxygen depletion, challenging the old theory. Recent research suggests a more complex narrative involving predation: prehistoric birds and specialized flying pterosaurs may have exerted significant evolutionary pressure on insect size.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Prehistoric Mystery: What Killed the Giant Insects? | SLICE EARTH | FULL DOC
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