Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: Keith Killigrew on 11/05/2010 10:30:03

Title: How did giant dragonflies fly?
Post by: Keith Killigrew on 11/05/2010 10:30:03

Keith Killigrew  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
HelloNaked Scientists, a great programme (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) and interesting with it.

Question.

During the early Jurassic period, giant (30 cm) wingspan dragonflies went extinct; how did such huge insects get airborne and manoeuvre like the modern day ones do? Was the atmospere pressure greater than now, or did it have more oxygen content and be a source of greater muscle energy?

Thanks

Keith Killigrew

What do you think?

Title: How did giant dragonflies fly?
Post by: JimBob on 12/05/2010 15:50:00

The second -

There was much more oxygen when these critters lived. This allowed larger insect bodies. They functioned in the same way as present dragonflies.