Insect Fossils from the Carboniferous

The following insect fossils are on display in Paris, France at the Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée. Note, I have changed the contrast on a lot of these fossil images to make the fossil standout from the rock matrix.

UPDATED: I would like to thank Dr. Sam Heads, a paleoentomologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, for providing detailed comments about the images on this post. His observations are in quotes throughout this posting. Find out more about Dr. Heads research at this site: http://myprofile.cos.com/swheads

I believe all these insect fossils are from the Carboniferous Period. This insect fossil looks like some sort of dragonfly. It was called Isophlebia aspasia.

"Isophlebia aspasia (Hagen, 1862) is a dragonfly (order
Odonata) of the family Isophlebiidae. This specimen is from the
Late Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone of Bavaria, Germany."


This next one looks like a water skater. It is called Pygolampis gigantea and is probably from Germany.

"Pygolampis gigantea Germar, 1839 is now known to be a
junior synonym of Chresmoda obscura Germar, 1839. These
insects belong in the unusual extinct family Chresmodidae; a
polyneopterous group which may be related to the stick insects
(order Phasmatodea). This specimen is also from the Late
Jurassic of Solnhofen."


These last two pictures are of the Meganeura monyi found in Allier, France. NOTE: I was getting some major reflections from the posters hanging on the walls on the case glass when taking some of these pictures. Ahhh!

"Meganeura monyi (Brogniart, 1893) is one of the giant
members of the Paleozoic order Protodonata (or 'griffenflies') and
belongs in the family Meganeuridae. This specimen is from the
famous Carboniferous (Stephanian) coal measures of
Commentry, Allier, France."

Carboniferous Insect Fossils

The following insect fossils are on display in Paris, France at the Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée.

UPDATED: Thanks to Howard from Canada for his comment and research. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Sam Heads, a paleoentomologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, for providing detailed comments about the images on this post. His observations are in quotes throughout this posting. Find out more about Dr. Heads research at this site: http://myprofile.cos.com/swheads

I believe all these insect fossils are from the Carboniferous Period. This insect fossil looks like some sort of dragonfly. It was called Mischoptera nigra.

"Mischoptera nigra Brogniart, 1885 is one of the haustellate
insects assigned to the extinct palaeodictyopterid order
Megasecoptera. This specimen is also from the Carboniferous
deposits of Commentry, France."

Another dragonfly fossil called Aeschna speciosa.


Either this fossil was not identified or I did not take a picture of its label.


This dragonfly was called Nannogomphus gracilis and looking at its label was probably found somewhere in Germany.

"Nannogomphus gracilis Meunier, 1896 is a dragonfly of the
family Nannogomphidae from the Late Jurassic Solnhofen
Limestone of Bavaria, Germany."


The next two pictures are of posters hanging above the cases where the insect fossils were on display. If you click on them, they should expand to show more detail.



An unidentified insect fossil that may or may not have had a label. The same is true for the next two images after that.

"In addition, the penultimate two images of this post appear to be
primitive roachoids (stem-group Dictyoptera) related to modern
cockroaches and are probably from Commentry."

Nashville Brachiopods

Here are some brachiopods I saw earlier in the week in Nashville, Tennessee. I am guessing they are from either the Nashville or Maysville Groups in the Ordovician Period. This first brachiopod might be a Resserella (aka Dalmanella).

These next brachiopods might be Lepidocyclus (Orthorhynchula).


This might be the bottom half of a Hebertella brachiopod.



Maybe a Lepidocyclus brachiopod.

Again another mixture of Lepidocyclus brachiopods.

Some sort of Resserella or Hebertella brachiopods.


Thanks to the website at www.nashvillefossils.com for help with identification.