Titanoptera

Titanoptera is an extinct order of neopteran insects from the Triassic period. Titanopterans were very large in comparison with modern insects, some having wingspans of up to 36 centimetres (14 in).[1]

Titanoptera
Temporal range: Triassic
reconstruction of Gigatitan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Superorder: Orthopterida
(unranked): Panorthoptera
Order: †Titanoptera
Families

†Mesotitanidae
†Paratitanidae
†Gigantitanidae

They were related to modern grasshoppers, but were much larger, had proportionally weaker hindlegs that could not allow the animals to leap, and grasping forelegs and elongated mandibles. Another distinctive feature was the presence of prominent fluted regions on the forewings, which may have been used in stridulation. The general shape and anatomy of the Titanopterans suggests that they were predators.[1]

Classification

Order Titanoptera

  • Family †Mesotitanidae
    • Genus †Deinotitan
    • Genus †Mesotitan
    • Genus †Mesotitanodes
    • Genus †Prototitan
    • Genus †Ultratitan
  • Family †Paratitanidae
    • Genus †Paratitan
  • Family †Gigatitanidae
    • Genus †Gigatitan
    • Genus †Nanotitan
    • Genus †Ootitan

References
  1. Hoell, H.V.; Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 322. ISBN 0-19-510033-6.


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