The engineering of the giant dragonflies of the Permian: revised body mass, power, air supply, thermoregulation and the role of air density

Abstract

ABSTRACT An engineering examination of allometric and analogical data on the flight of giant Permian insects (Protodonata, Meganeura or griffinflies) indicates that previous estimates of the body mass of these insects are too low and that the largest of these insects (wingspan of 70 cm or more) would have had a mass of 100–150 g, several times greater than previously thought. Here, the power needed to generate lift and fly at the speeds typical of modern large dragonflies is examined together with the metabolic rate and subsequent heat generated by the thoracic muscles. This evaluation agrees with previous work suggesting that the larger specimens would rapidly overheat in the high ambient temperatures assumed in the Permian. Various extant mechanisms of thermoregulation are modelled and quantified, including behaviour, radiation and the constraints on convective respiration and evaporation imposed by air flow through spiracles. However, the effects of these on cooling an overheated insect are found to be limited. Instead, an examination of the heat budget in the flight medium indicates that, at about 1.6 bar (160 kPa), thermoregulation supply enters into equilibrium and, even at high ambient temperatures, overheating can be avoided and enough oxygen sourced. This approach indicates how fossil biology can be used to examine past atmospheres.