Dragonfly fossil, about 150 million years old, in Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany
Dragonfly fossil, about 150 million years old, in Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany (© Ingo Arndt/Minden Pictures)
In praise of the old…the very old
What better way to honor National Fossil Day than with this amazing dragonfly! It's rare to find one in such exquisite condition, but this one was discovered in Solnhofen, Germany, where limestone deposits preserved some of the most detailed fossils ever found—including the birdlike dinosaur called Archaeopteryx. This dragonfly was preserved in the Solnhofen limestone about 150 million years ago in the Jurassic Period. It measures about 5.5 inches across.
© Ingo Arndt/Minden Pictures