Mzansi Researchers Prove Giant Prehistoric Insects Could Survive in Our Modern Atmosphere

• Researchers from the University of Pretoria proved that ancient insects did not require high oxygen levels to reach their massive seventy-centimetre wingspans during prehistoric times
• The groundbreaking study used high-resolution electron microscopy to show that insect respiratory tubes occupy a very small percentage of their powerful flying muscle tissues
• International experts now believe that factors such as global temperatures or predators likely played a much bigger role in limiting the size of modern insects

Prehistoric giants once dominated the skies with wingspans reaching up to 70 centimetres during the ancient era.

These massive dragonfly-like creatures patrolled lush, swampy forests across the supercontinent known as Pangaea long ago. South African scientists from the University of Pretoria led a massive study to investigate these beasts. They worked with international experts to debunk a sixty-year-old myth about how these insects functioned. The team published their groundbreaking findings in the prestigious journal called Nature on 25 March 2026. This research proves that atmospheric oxygen did not limit the size of these flying predators.

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For decades, experts believed that high oxygen levels were necessary to fuel such massive bodies. Scientists previously thought the ancient atmosphere contained nearly 45% more oxygen than our air today. This theory suggested that modern insects remain small because our current air lacks enough vital gas.

Researchers used advanced electron microscopy to study how oxygen moves through tiny insect muscle tubes. They discovered that these respiratory tubes occupy a very tiny fraction of the flight muscles. This means that insects can easily grow larger by simply adding more of these tubes.

Breaking down the ancient mystery of giant wings

The legendary griffinflies were first discovered as fossils in the United States nearly one full century ago. These insects were truly massive with wingspans that would make most birds living in our world today look small. In the 1960s, researchers argued that such sizes were impossible without a very rich oxygen supply. They believed the unique tracheal system of insects reached a physical limit in our modern environment.

This idea became a staple in science textbooks and was taught to students for many years.

Dr Edward Snelling said, “Our findings suggest a need to reassess textbook explanations of what limits the body size.”

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The lead researcher explained that the evidence of oxygen being the main constraint simply is not there.

“There is some compensation occurring in larger insects, but it is trivial in the grand scheme,” he said.

He noted that the space taken up by oxygen tubes is usually only 1%.

The study took over five years to complete, using diverse insect samples from across Africa. This discovery shifts the focus away from air quality and toward other possible evolutionary factors. The research team included experts from Australia, Ireland, and several prominent universities across the South African region

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• A South African scientist posted footage from Antarctica, and the comments section exploded with different views from Mzansi locals.

Source: Briefly News