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 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