7 Giant Animals That Are Now Extinct Part 1

6. Meganeura

The Largest Insect Ever to Fly

Meganeura looked like a dragonfly—but on a terrifying scale.

Key facts:

• Lived 300 million years ago
• Wingspan up to 75 cm (30 inches)
• Carnivorous insect
• Existed before dinosaurs

Its massive size was possible because Earth’s atmosphere once had much higher oxygen levels. It went extinct during the Permian mass extinction, one of the deadliest events in Earth’s history.