Tanyderidae, sometimes called primitive crane flies, are long, thin, delicate
flies
Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwin ...
with spotted wings, superficially similar in appearance to some
Tipulidae
Tipulidae is a family of large Crane fly, crane flies in the order Diptera. There are more than 30 genera and 4,200 described species in Tipulidae, common and widespread throughout the world.
A crane fly can be identified as a member of Tipuli ...
,
Trichoceridae, and
Ptychopteridae. Most
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
are restricted in distribution. They are found in many parts of the world, including
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
,
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...
,
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
, and various islands in the
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...
. Adults are usually found hanging from
vegetation
Vegetation is an assemblage of plants and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular Taxon, taxa, life forms, structure, Spatial ecology, spatial extent, or any other specific Botany, botanic ...
near
streams
A stream is a continuous body of surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to by a variety of local or regional names. Long, large stream ...
.
Larva
A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
e are found either in sandy stream margins or in wet, rotten wood.
Fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
species are known.
Taxonomy
Based on
* Nannotanyderinae
** †''
Coramus''
***''Coramus gedanensis''
Baltic amber
Baltic amber or succinite is amber from the Baltic region, home of its largest known deposits. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that this forested region provided the re ...
,
Eocene
The Eocene ( ) is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes ...
37.2 - 33.9 Ma
** †''
Dacochile''
Poinar & Brown, 2004
***''Dacochile microsoma,''
Burmese amber
Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. Th ...
, Myanmar, Late Cretaceous (
Cenomanian
The Cenomanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age (geology), age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or the lowest stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Cretace ...
), 99 Ma
** †''
Nannotanyderus''
***''Nannotanyderus ansorgei''
Lebanese amber, Early Cretaceous (
Barremian
The Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale (or a chronostratigraphic stage) between 125.77 Ma (million years ago) and 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma (Historically, this stage was placed at 129.4 million to approximately 125 million years ago) It is a ...
), 130-125 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus grimmenensis'' "
Green Series", Germany, Early Jurassic (
Toarcian
The Toarcian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy, ICS' geologic timescale, an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Early Jurassic, Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 184.2 Megaannum, Ma (million ...
) 183 - 182 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus incertus''
Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Late Jurassic (
Tithonian
In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age (geology), age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 149.2 ±0.7 annum, Ma and 143.1 ±0.6 (mi ...
), 150.8 - 145.5 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus krzeminskii'' "Green Series", Germany'','' Toarcian, 183 - 182 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus kubekovensis''
Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan Middle/Late Jurassic (
Callovian/
Oxfordian) 164.7 - 155.7 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus oliviae''
Charmouth Mudstone Formation
The Charmouth Mudstone Formation is a Formation (geology), geological formation in England, dating to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian–Pliensbachian). It forms part of the lower Lias Group. It is most prominently exposed at its type locality in cl ...
, United Kingdom, Early Jurassic (
Sinemurian
In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Early Jurassic, Early or Lower Jurassic epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), Series. It spans the time between 199.5 ±0.3 annu ...
), 196.5 - 189.6 Ma
**''
Peringueyomyina''
***''Peringueyomyina'' ''barnardi'' South Africa
* Tanyderinae
** †''
Espanoderus''
***''Espanoderus'' ''barbarae''
Alava amber (
Escucha Formation), Spain, Early Cretaceous (
Albian
The Albian is both an age (geology), age of the geologic timescale and a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is the youngest or uppermost subdivision of the Early Cretaceous, Early/Lower Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch/s ...
) 105.3 - 99.7 Ma
***''Espanoderus'' ''orientalis'' Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian, 99 Ma
** †''
Similinannotanyderus''
***''Similinannotanyderus lii'' Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian, 99 Ma
***''Similinannotanyderus longitergata'' Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian, 99 Ma
***''Similinannotanyderus zbigniewi'' Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian, 99 Ma
** †''
Macrochile''
***''Macrochile spectrum'' Baltic amber, Eocene 37.2 - 33.9 Ma
***''Macrochile hornei'' Baltic amber, Eocene 37.2 - 33.9 Ma
** †''
Podemacrochile''
***''Podemacrochile baltica'' Baltic amber, Eocene 37.2 - 33.9 Ma
** †''
Praemacrochile''
***''Praemacrochile ansorgei''
Daohugou, China, Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan
Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Middle-Late Jurassic 164.7 to 145.5 Ma
*** ''Praemacrochile chinensis'' Daohugou'','' China, Callovian/Oxfordian ~ 160 Ma
*** ''Praemacrochile decipiens''
Posidonia Shale, Germany, Toarcian 183.0 to 182.0 Ma
*** ''Praemacrochile dobbertinensis'', "Green Series", Germany, Toarcian 183.0 to 182.0 Ma
*** ''Praemacrochile dryasis'' Daohugou'','' China, Callovian/Oxfordian ~ 160 Ma
*** ''Praemacrochile kaluginae'' Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan Callovian/Oxfordian 164.7 to 155.7 Ma
*** ''Praemacrochile ovalum'' Daohugou'','' China, Callovian/Oxfordian ~ 160 Ma
*** ''Praemacrochile stackelbergi''
Ichetuy Formation, Russia, Late Jurassic (Oxfordian) 159-156 Ma
** ''
Protanyderus'' (extinct) Note: Lukashevich (2018) considers the assignation of these species to the living genus to be "in doubt" due to differing morphological characters
***''Protanyderus astictum'' Daohugou'','' China, Callovian/Oxfordian ~ 160 Ma
*** ''Protanyderus invalidus''
Itat Formation, Russia, Middle Jurassic (
Bajocian-
Bathonian
In the geologic timescale the Bathonian is an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 168.2 ±1.2 annum, Ma to around 165.3 ±1.1 Ma (million years ago). The Bathonian Age succeeds ...
) 171.6 - 164.7 Ma
*** ''Protanyderus mesozoicus''
Tsagaantsav Formation, Mongolia, Barremian, 130-125 Ma
*** ''Protanyderus nebulosus'' Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Tithonian, 150.8 - 145.5 Ma
***''Protanyderus savtchenkoi'' Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan Callovian/Oxfordian 164.7 to 155.7 Ma
***''Protanyderus senilis'' Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Tithonian, 150.8 - 145.5 Ma
***''Protanyderus vetus'' Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Tithonian, 150.8 - 145.5 Ma
***''Protanyderus vulcanium'' Daohugou'','' China, Callovian/Oxfordian ~ 160 Ma
**''
Araucoderus''
***''Araucoderus'' ''gloriosus'', Chile
**''
Eutanyderus''
***''Eutanyderus'' ''oreonympha'' Australia
***''Eutanyderus'' ''wilsoni'' Australia
**''
Mischoderus''
***''Mischoderus annuliferus'' (Hutton, 1901), New Zealand
***''Mischoderus forcipatus'' (Osten Sacken, 1880) New Zealand
***''Mischoderus marginatus'' (Edwards 1923), New Zealand
***''Mischoderus neptunus'' (Edwards 1923), New Zealand
***''Mischoderus varipes (''Edwards 1923), New Zealand
**''
Neoderus''
***''Neoderus chonos'' Chile
***''Neoderus patagonicus'' Chile
**''
Nothoderus''
***''Nothoderus australiensis'' Tasmania
**''
Protoplasa''
***''Protoplasa fitchii'', United States
**''
Protanyderus'' (extant) Note: Villanueva (2017) considers ''Protanyderus'' to be a junior synonym of ''Protoplasa''
***''Protanyderus alexanderi'' Kariya 1935 Japan (Shimajima-Dani)
***''Protanyderus beckeri'' (Riedel), 1920. Turkestan (Osch-Fergana)
***''Protanyderus esakii'' Alexander 1932 . Japan (Kyushu)
***''Protanyderus margarita'' Alexander 1948 USA (Rocky Mountains).
***''Protanyderus redeli'' Savchenko 1974 USSR (Gissar Range).
***''Protanyderus schmidi'' Alexander 1959 India (Uttar Pradesh)
***''Protanyderus sikkimensis'' Alexander 1961 India (Ramtang).
***''Protanyderus stackelbergi'' Savchenko 1971 Mongolia (Gatsur)
***''Protanyderus vanduzeei'' (Alexander 1918) USA (California).
***''Protanyderus venustipes'' Alexander 1961 India (Ramtang).
***''Protanyderus vipio'' (Osten Sacken 1877) USA (California).
***''
Protanyderus yankovskyi'' Alexnder 1938 North Korea
**''
Radinoderus''
*** ''Radinoderus caledoniana'' Hynes, 1993 (New Caledonia)
*** ''Radinoderus dorrigensis'' Alexander, 1930. Australia (New South Wales).
*** ''Radinoderus holwai'' Alexander, 1946. Solomon Islands.
*** ''Radinoderus mirabilis'' (De Meijere), 1915a. Papua New Guinea.
*** ''Radinoderus occidentalis'' (Alexander), 1925. Australia (West Australia).
*** ''Radinoderus ochroceratus'' Colless, 1962. Papua New Guinea (Bouganville Island).
*** ''Radinoderus oculatus'' (Riedel), 1921. Papua New Guinea (PNG)
*** ''Radinoderus ornatissimus'' (Doleschall), 1858. Indonesia (Maluku).
*** ''Radinoderus pictipes'' Alexander, 1946. Indonesia (Irian Jaya).
*** ''Radinoderus solomonis'' (Alexander), 1924. Solomon Islands.
*** ''Radinoderus supernumerarius'' Alexander, 1953. Indonesia (Irian Jaya).
*** ''Radinoderus terrae-reginae'' (Alexander), 1924. Australia (Queensland)
*** ''Radinoderus toxopei'' Alexander, 1959a. Indonesia (Irian Jaya).
**''
Tanyderus''
***''Tanyderus'' ''pictus'' Philippi 1865 Chile, Concepcion
References
*Borror, D.J., C.A. Triplehorn, & N.A. Johnson. 1989. ''An Introduction to the Study of Insects'', Sixth edition. Saunders College Publishing.
*Krzeminski, W. & D.D. Judd. 1997. Family Tanyderidae. Pp. 281–289, in: ''Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera, Vol.2''. L. Papp & B. Darvas, eds. Science Herald, Budapest.
*Poinar, G. Jr. & A.E. Brown. 2004. A New genus of primitive crane flies (Diptera: Tanyderidae) in Cretaceous Burmese amber, with a summary of fossil tanyderids. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 106: 339–345.
External links
Images at BugGuide
{{Taxonbar, from=Q602997
Nematocera families
Psychodomorpha