Dragonfly Larva Preserved in Gypsum – Al-Mujib, Jordan

By: Dr. Abbas Haddadin

A fossilized dragonfly larva was discovered in gypsum deposits in the Al-Mujib area, Jordan, dated to approximately 100 million years ago (Cenomanian, Middle Cretaceous). اضافة اعلان

The specimen exhibits a large head, characteristic of predatory aquatic dragonfly larvae that fed on mosquito larvae and other insects.

The presence of four additional larvae within the same gypsum layer suggests a freshwater swamp or stagnant water body rich in aquatic insects. 

This finding supports evidence that parts of Jordan hosted diverse freshwater ecosystems during the Middle Cretaceous.