Headless Dragonfly, Footless Lizard: Grisly Scene Preserved

A headless dragonfly preserved next to the foot of its killer, a small lizard. (Image credit: George Poinar)

One hundred million years ago in what is now Myanmar, a lizard snapped off a dragonfly's head and tried to dash away. Unfortunately, the reptile didn't escape with its snack: Both creatures were trapped in sticky tree resin, leaving behind a grisly fossilized scene.

The find, reported in the 2010 issue of the journal Palaeodiversity, is the oldest example of a dragonfly preserved in amber, or fossilized tree resin. But what makes the find really interesting is the snapshot of ancient life that looks familiar today, said George Poinar, an entomologist and emeritus professor at Oregon State University.

"It's unfortunate we don't have the entire specimen of the lizard," he said, "because it probably had the dragonfly's head in its mouth."

Fossilized dragonflies preserved in stone date back 300 million years, but the specimen from Burma (now Myanmar), which is between 97 million and 110 million years old, is the oldest known specimen preserved in amber. Like modern dragonflies, the Burma specimen was a predator, feeding on larvae and other insects. And like today's dragonflies, the ancient insect had to watch out for predators of its own. Beside lizards, young and hatchling dinosaurs probably ate dragonflies, Poinar said.

"Dragonflies are still eaten by small lizards every day. It's a routine predator-prey interaction," Poinar said. "This shows once again how behaviors of various life forms are retained over vast amounts of time."

For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.