Elcanidae

Elcanidae are an extinct family of Mesozoic and early Cenozoic orthopterans. Members of the family are distinguished by the presence of spurs on the distal part of the metatibia, unique among orthopterans, these have been suggested to have been used for controlling gliding, swimming aids, or for jumping on water. The group combines characteristics from both major groups of orthopterans, with long antennae and nymphal morphology similar to Ensifera, but with wing venation and adult morphology more similar to Caelifera. Elcanidae is part of Elcanoidea, which is thought to have diverged from living orthopterans by the beginning of the Permian, around 300 million years ago. The family also includes Permelcanidae, known from the Early-Late Permian. The relationship of Elcanoidea to Ensifera and Caelifera is currently unresolved. Elcanids are known from the Late Triassic to Paleocene of Eurasia, North and South America. Some members of the group exhibited aposematic coloration. They are thought to have been herbivorous.

up''Sinoelcana minuta''
Jurassic, China
up ''Elcanonympha diana'' nymph
upWings of '' Parelcana pulchmacula''

Taxonomy

* subfamily Archelcaninae Gorochov, 2011
** '' Archelcana'' Sharov, 1968
*** ''Archelcana durnovaria'' Whalley, 1985 – Charmouth Mudstone Formation, England, Early Jurassic (Sinemurian)
*** ''Archelcana ornata'' Zherikhin, 1985 – Cheremkhovskaya Formation, Russia, Early Jurassic (Toarcian)
*** ''Archelcana shurabica'' Sharov, 1968 – Sagul Formation, Kyrgyzstan, Toarcian
*** Indeterminate remains attributed to the genus are also known from the latest Triassic of Germany
** '' Jeholelcana'' Fang ''et al.'' 2018b
*** ''Jeholelcana yanensis'' Fang ''et al.'' 2018b – Yixian Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
** '' Parelcana'' Handlirsch, 1906
*** ''Parelcana anglicana'' Handlirsch, 1939 – Blue Lias, United Kingdom, Early Jurassic (Hettangian)
*** ''Parelcana dubia'' Handlirsch, 1939 – United Kingdom, Late Triassic (Rhaetian)
*** ''Parelcana pulchmacula'' Tian ''et al.'', 2019 – Daohugou, China, Middle Jurassic (Callovian)
*** ''Parelcana tenuis'' Handlirsch, 1906 – Green Series, Germany, Toarcian
** '' Sibelcana'' Gorochov, 1990
*** ''Sibelcana rossica'' Gorochov, 1990 – Glushkovo Formation, Russia, Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
*** ''Sibelcana transbaicalica'' Gorochov, 1990 – Ukurei Formation, Russia, Tithonian
** '' Synelcana'' Zessin, 1988
*** ''Synelcana muelleri'' Zessin, 1988 – Green Series, Germany, Toarcian
* subfamily Elcaninae Handlirsch, 1906
** '' Cratoelcana'' Martins-Neto, 1991 – Crato Formation, Brazil, Aptian
*** ''Cratoelcana damianii'' Martins-Neto, 1991
*** ''Cratoelcana zessini'' Martins-Neto, 1991
** '' Ellca'' Kočárek, 2020
*** ''Ellca nevelka'' Kočárek, 2020 – Burmese amber, Myanmar, Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
** '' Eubaisselcana'' Gorochov, 1986 – Gurvan-Eren Formation, Mongolia, Aptian
*** ''Eubaisselcana mongolica'' Gorochov, 1986
*** ''Eubaisselcana sharovi'' Gorochov, 1986
** '' Minelcana'' Gorochov ''et al.'', 2006
*** ''Minelcana dubia'' (Giebel 1856) – Lulworth Formation, United Kingdom, Early Cretaceous (Berriasian)
*** ''Minelcana membranacea'' Gorochov ''et al.'', 2006 – Durlston Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian
** '' Panorpidium'' Westwood, 1854
*** ''Panorpidium bimaculatum'' Gorochov ''et al.'', 2006 – Weald Clay, United Kingdom, Early Cretaceous (Barremian)
*** ''Panorpidium maculosum'' Zhou et al. 2022 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
*** ''Panorpidium proximum'' Gorochov ''et al.'', 2006 – Durlston Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian
*** ''Panorpidium parvum'' Gorochov ''et al.'', 2006 – Weald Clay, United Kingdom, Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian)
*** ''Panorpidium sibirica'' Sharov, 1968 – Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian
***''Panorpidium spica'' Kim ''et al.'', 2021 – Jinju Formation, South Korea, Early Cretaceous (Albian)
*** ''Panorpidium tessellatum'' Westwood, 1854 – Durlston Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian
*** ''Panorpidium yixianensis'' Fang ''et al.'', 2015 – Yixian Formation, China, Aptian
** '' Probaisselcana'' Gorochov, 1989
*** ''Probaisselcana cretacea'' Gorochov ''et al.'', 2006 – Weald Clay, United Kingdom, Hauterivian
*** ''Probaisselcana euryptera'' Tian ''et al.'', 2019 – Yixian Formation, China, Aptian
*** ''Probaisselcana karatavica'' Sharov, 1968 – Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic ( Oxfordian)
*** ''Probaisselcana oculata'' Hu & He, 2023 - Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
* ''Incertae sedis''
** '' Burmelcana'' Peñalver & Grimaldi, 2010
*** ''Burmelcana longirostris'' Peñalver & Grimaldi, 2010 – Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
** '' Cascadelcana'' Fang ''et al.'', 2018a
*** ''Cascadelcana virginiana'' Fang ''et al.'', 2018a – Cow Branch Formation, North Carolina, Late Triassic (Norian)
**'' Cenoelcanus'' Schubnel ''et al.'', 2020
***''Cenoelcanus menatensis'' Schubnel ''et al.'', 2020 – Menat Formation, France, Paleocene
** '' Elcanonympha'' Heads ''et al.'', 2018
*** ''Elcanonympha diana'' Heads ''et al.'', 2018 – Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
** '' Hispanelcana'' Peñalver & Grimaldi, 2010 – Álava amber, Escucha Formation, Spain, Albian
*** ''Hispanelcana alavensis'' Peñalver & Grimaldi, 2010
*** ''Hispanelcana arilloi'' Peñalver & Grimaldi, 2010
*** ''Hispanelcana lopezvallei'' Peñalver & Grimaldi, 2010
** '' Longioculus'' Poinar ''et al.'', 2007
*** ''Longioculus burmensis'' Poinar ''et al.'', 2007 – Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**'' Hukawnelca'' Uchida, 2021
***''Hukawnelca gracile'' Uchida, 2021 – Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**'' Caelielca'' Uchida, 2021
***''Caelielca spinocrus'' Uchida, 2021 – Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**'' Monitelcana'' Xu ''et al.'', 2022
***''Monitelcana penalveri'' Xu ''et al.'', 2022 – Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q21222968

Orthoptera families
Ensifera
Prehistoric insect families