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.

Taxonomy

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

References