Titanoptera is an extinct order of neopteran insects from late Carboniferous to Triassic periods.[1] Titanopterans were very large in comparison with modern insects, some having wingspans of up to 36 centimetres (14 in) or even 40 centimetres (16 in).[2][3]
Reconstruction of Gigatitan vulgaris, showing its large size
Titanopterans are 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.[2]
An examination of a fossil of the oldest titanopteran genus, Theiatitan, seems to indicate that titanopterans did not utilize stridulation (unlike modern orthopterans), but rather used flashes of light from wing displays and crepitation, moving their wings to produce sound. The authors argue that stridulation, crepitation, castanet signaling or light flash alone do not fully explains the diversity of structures observed in Titanoptera, and note that both sexes seem to have the fluted region on the forewing. Theiatian is 50 Ma older than the previous oldest species of Titanoptera, and thus Theiatitan would be the oldest known insect with a wing structure specialized for communication.[1]
Pseudophyllanax imperialis, modern orthopteran with hind wing area close to that of Gigatitan
Some titanopterans may have been able to only glide, not fly, such as Gigatitan vulgaris. The hind wing area of it is almost the same as that of Pseudophyllanax imperialis, one of the largest modern Orthoptera, and a poor flier, but Gigatitan is larger in volume. All known hind wings of Titanoptera, whatever their sizes, have quite reduced vannus, while most extant flying Orthoptera have large ones.[1]
Other than Theiatitan, reliable records of titanopterans are known from Kyrgyzstan, Australia and South Korea. Considering some possible records from Russia as well, titanopterans possibly had a circum-Tethys distribution.[3]
ClassificationEdit
Forewing of Clatrotitan andersoni.
There is controversy regarding the classification of Titanoptera. Titanoptera was previously thought to be related to Geraridae (including Gerarus), but it is no longer supported.[4] Olivier (2007) considered that genera in Titanoptera should be included in Orthoptera, and divided from extinct orthopteran family Tchomanvissidae.[5] But later study considered that the relationships between Titanoptera and Tcholmanvissiidae remain controversial.[1] Three genera known from Permian, Permotitan, Deinotitan, Monstrotitan possibly not belong to Titanoptera.[1] Although the genus Jubilaeus originally belonged to Mesotitanidae, but it is later considered to belong to Tcholmanvissiidae.[5][6]Steinhardtia was originally attributed to Titanoptera, but as fossil does not show the venational structures of the order Titanoptera, and it is even possible to be misidentification of plant fossil, possibly fern.[1]
Order Titanoptera
Family †Mesotitanidae
Genus †Clatrotitan (Originally considered as synonym of Mesotitan but some propose to keep the genus[1])
Genus †Deinotitan (Some question its affinity as titanopteran[1])
^ abcdefghiSchubnel, Thomas; Legendre, Frédéric; Roques, Patrick; Garrouste, Romain; Cornette, Raphaël; Perreau, Michel; Perreau, Naïl; Desutter-Grandcolas, Laure; Nel, André (2021-07-08). "Sound vs. light: wing-based communication in Carboniferous insects". Communications Biology. 4 (1): 794. doi:10.1038/s42003-021-02281-0. ISSN 2399-3642. PMC8266802. PMID 34239029.
^ abHoell, H.V.; Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 322. ISBN0-19-510033-6.
^ abcPark, T.-Y.S.; Kim, D.-Y.; Nam, G.-S.; Lee, M. (2022). "A new titanopteran Magnatitan jongheoni n. gen. n. sp. from southwestern Korean Peninsula". Journal of Paleontology. 96 (5): 1111–1118. doi:10.1017/jpa.2022.30.
^Béthoux, Olivier; Briggs, Derek E. G. (2008). "How Gerarus lost its head: stem-group Orthoptera and Paraneoptera revisited". Systematic Entomology. 33 (3): 529–547. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2008.00419.x. S2CID 84577837.
^Béthoux, Olivier (2009-01-20). "New data on Tcholmanvissiidae (Orthoptera; Permian)". Journal of Orthoptera Research. 11 (2): 223–235. doi:10.1665/1082-6467(2002)011[0223:NDOTP]2.0.CO;2.
^Gorochov, A. V. (2007-10-01). "The first representative of the suborder Mesotitanina from the Paleozoic and notes on the system and evolution of the order Titanoptera (Insecta: Polyneoptera)". Paleontological Journal. 41 (6): 621–625. doi:10.1134/S0031030107060056. ISSN 1555-6174. S2CID 85364942.
External linksEdit
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titanoptera, extinct, order, neopteran, insects, from, late, carboniferous, triassic, periods, were, very, large, comparison, with, modern, insects, some, having, wingspans, centimetres, even, centimetres, temporal, range, moscovian, triassic, preꞒ, nreconstru. Titanoptera is an extinct order of neopteran insects from late Carboniferous to Triassic periods 1 Titanopterans were very large in comparison with modern insects some having wingspans of up to 36 centimetres 14 in or even 40 centimetres 16 in 2 3 TitanopteraTemporal range Moscovian Triassic PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NReconstruction of GigatitanScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaSuperorder Orthopterida unranked PanorthopteraOrder TitanopteraFamilies Mesotitanidae Paratitanidae Gigantitanidae Theiatitanidae Contents 1 Description 2 Classification 3 References 4 External linksDescription Edit nbsp Reconstruction of Gigatitan vulgaris showing its large sizeTitanopterans are 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 2 An examination of a fossil of the oldest titanopteran genus Theiatitan seems to indicate that titanopterans did not utilize stridulation unlike modern orthopterans but rather used flashes of light from wing displays and crepitation moving their wings to produce sound The authors argue that stridulation crepitation castanet signaling or light flash alone do not fully explains the diversity of structures observed in Titanoptera and note that both sexes seem to have the fluted region on the forewing Theiatian is 50 Ma older than the previous oldest species of Titanoptera and thus Theiatitan would be the oldest known insect with a wing structure specialized for communication 1 nbsp Pseudophyllanax imperialis modern orthopteran with hind wing area close to that of GigatitanSome titanopterans may have been able to only glide not fly such as Gigatitan vulgaris The hind wing area of it is almost the same as that of Pseudophyllanax imperialis one of the largest modern Orthoptera and a poor flier but Gigatitan is larger in volume All known hind wings of Titanoptera whatever their sizes have quite reduced vannus while most extant flying Orthoptera have large ones 1 Other than Theiatitan reliable records of titanopterans are known from Kyrgyzstan Australia and South Korea Considering some possible records from Russia as well titanopterans possibly had a circum Tethys distribution 3 Classification Edit nbsp Forewing of Clatrotitan andersoni There is controversy regarding the classification of Titanoptera Titanoptera was previously thought to be related to Geraridae including Gerarus but it is no longer supported 4 Olivier 2007 considered that genera in Titanoptera should be included in Orthoptera and divided from extinct orthopteran family Tchomanvissidae 5 But later study considered that the relationships between Titanoptera and Tcholmanvissiidae remain controversial 1 Three genera known from Permian Permotitan Deinotitan Monstrotitan possibly not belong to Titanoptera 1 Although the genus Jubilaeus originally belonged to Mesotitanidae but it is later considered to belong to Tcholmanvissiidae 5 6 Steinhardtia was originally attributed to Titanoptera but as fossil does not show the venational structures of the order Titanoptera and it is even possible to be misidentification of plant fossil possibly fern 1 Order Titanoptera Family Mesotitanidae Genus Clatrotitan Originally considered as synonym of Mesotitan but some propose to keep the genus 1 Genus Deinotitan Some question its affinity as titanopteran 1 Genus Mesotitan Genus Mesotitanodes Genus Prototitan Genus Ultratitan Family Paratitanidae Genus Paratitan Genus Minititan Microtitan 7 Genus Magnatitan 3 Family Gigatitanidae Genus Gigatitan Genus Nanotitan Genus Ootitan Family Theiatitanidae Genus Theiatitan 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Schubnel Thomas Legendre Frederic Roques Patrick Garrouste Romain Cornette Raphael Perreau Michel Perreau Nail Desutter Grandcolas Laure Nel Andre 2021 07 08 Sound vs light wing based communication in Carboniferous insects Communications Biology 4 1 794 doi 10 1038 s42003 021 02281 0 ISSN 2399 3642 PMC 8266802 PMID 34239029 a b Hoell H V Doyen J T amp Purcell A H 1998 Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity 2nd ed Oxford University Press p 322 ISBN 0 19 510033 6 a b c Park T Y S Kim D Y Nam G S Lee M 2022 A new titanopteran Magnatitan jongheoni n gen n sp from southwestern Korean Peninsula Journal of Paleontology 96 5 1111 1118 doi 10 1017 jpa 2022 30 Bethoux Olivier Briggs Derek E G 2008 How Gerarus lost its head stem group Orthoptera and Paraneoptera revisited Systematic Entomology 33 3 529 547 doi 10 1111 j 1365 3113 2008 00419 x S2CID 84577837 a b Bethoux Olivier 2007 01 01 Cladotypic taxonomy applied titanopterans are orthopterans Arthropod Systematics amp Phylogeny 65 135 156 Bethoux Olivier 2009 01 20 New data on Tcholmanvissiidae Orthoptera Permian Journal of Orthoptera Research 11 2 223 235 doi 10 1665 1082 6467 2002 011 0223 NDOTP 2 0 CO 2 Gorochov A V 2007 10 01 The first representative of the suborder Mesotitanina from the Paleozoic and notes on the system and evolution of the order Titanoptera Insecta Polyneoptera Paleontological Journal 41 6 621 625 doi 10 1134 S0031030107060056 ISSN 1555 6174 S2CID 85364942 External links Edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Titanoptera nbsp This prehistoric insect related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article related to a Triassic animal is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Titanoptera amp oldid 1176764407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
