Tanyderidae, sometimes called primitive crane flies, are long, thin, delicate
flies
Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced m ...
with spotted wings, superficially similar in appearance to some
Tipulidae
Crane fly is a common name referring to any member of the insect family Tipulidae. Cylindrotominae, Limoniinae, and Pediciinae have been ranked as subfamilies of Tipulidae by most authors, though occasionally elevated to family rank. In the m ...
Ptychopteridae
The Ptychopteridae, phantom crane flies, are a small family (three extant genera) of nematocerous Diptera. Superficially similar in appearance to other "tipuloid" families, they lack the ocelli of the Trichoceridae, the five-branched radial vein ...
. Most
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
are restricted in distribution. They are found in many parts of the world, including North America,
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
,
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, and various islands in the
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...
. Adults are usually found hanging from
vegetation
Vegetation is an assemblage of plant species and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characte ...
Larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
...
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 preserved ...
species are known.
Taxonomy
Based on
* Nannotanyderinae
** †'' Coramus''
***''Coramus gedanensis''
Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than ...
,
Eocene
The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes from the Ancient Greek (''ēṓs'', " ...
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. The ...
, Myanmar, Late Cretaceous ( Cenomanian), 99 Ma
** †'' Nannotanyderus''
***''Nannotanyderus ansorgei''
Lebanese amber
Lebanese amber is fossilized resin found in Lebanon and southwest Syria. It dates back approximately 130-125 million years to the Barremian of the Early Cretaceous. It formed on what was then the northern coast of Gondwana, believed to be a tropi ...
, Early Cretaceous (
Barremian
The Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale (or a chronostratigraphic stage) between 129.4 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago) and 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma). It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous Epoch (or Lower Cretaceous Series). It is precede ...
), 130-125 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus grimmenensis'' " Green Series", Germany, Early Jurassic (
Toarcian
The Toarcian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, an age and stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 182.7 Ma (million years ago) and 174.1 Ma. It follows the Pliensbachian and is followed by the Aalenian.
The Toarcian ...
) 183 - 182 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus incertus'' Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Late Jurassic ( Tithonian), 150.8 - 145.5 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus krzeminskii'' "Green Series", Germany'','' Toarcian, 183 - 182 Ma
***''Nannotanyderus kubekovensis''
Karabastau Formation
The Karabastau Formation ( kk, Qarabastaý svıtasy) is a geological formation and lagerstätte in the Karatau Mountains of southern Kazakhstan whose strata date to the Middle to Late Jurassic. It is an important locality for insect fossils that ...
, Kazakhstan Middle/Late Jurassic (
Callovian
In the geologic timescale, the Callovian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic, lasting between 166.1 ± 4.0 Ma (million years ago) and 163.5 ± 4.0 Ma. It is the last stage of the Middle Jurassic, following the Bathonian and preceding the ...
Sinemurian
In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age and stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic Epoch or Series. It spans the time between 199.3 ± 2 Ma and 190.8 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago). The Sinemurian is preceded by the Hettangian and ...
), 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 of the geologic timescale and a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is the youngest or uppermost subdivision of the Early/Lower Cretaceous Epoch/ Series. Its approximate time range is 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 100.5 ± 0 ...
) 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
The Posidonia Shale (german: Posidonienschiefer, also called Schistes Bitumineux in Luxembourg) geologically known as the Sachrang Formation, is an Early Jurassic (Toarcian) geological formation of southwestern and northeast Germany, northern Swit ...
, 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
The Itat Formation ( Russian: итатская свита) is a geologic formation in western Siberia. It was deposited in the Bajocian to Bathonian ages of the Middle Jurassic. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from ...
, Russia, Middle Jurassic (
Bajocian
In the geologic timescale, the Bajocian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 170.3 Ma to around 168.3 Ma (million years ago). The Bajocian Age succeeds the Aalenian Age and precedes the Bathonian Age.
Stra ...
-
Bathonian
In the geologic timescale the Bathonian is an age and stage of the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 168.3 Ma to around 166.1 Ma (million years ago). The Bathonian Age succeeds the Bajocian Age and precedes the Callovian Age.
Str ...
) 171.6 - 164.7 Ma
*** ''Protanyderus mesozoicus''
Tsagaantsav Formation
The Tsagaantsav Formation, Tsagantsab Formation or Tsagan-Tsab Formation (Russian: Tsagaantsav Svita) is an Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian to Barremian) geologic formation in Mongolia.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.