Tipulidae is a family of large crane flies in the order Diptera. There are more than 30 genera and 4,200 described species in Tipulidae, common and widespread throughout the world.
A crane fly can be identified as a member of Tipulidae by its maxillary palps, which is the pair of appendages that hang down from the front of its head. If the fourth segment (the furthest from the body) of the maxillary palp is longer than the other three combined, then it is likely to be a member of Tipulidae. There are also usually 13 segments in the antennae of large crane flies, compared to 14 or 16 in the common limoniid crane flies. See for details of morphology.
The oldest fossils that can be assigned confidently to Tipulidae sensu stricto are those of the genus Tipunia, which date to the Late Jurassic.
Genera These 39 genera belong to the family Tipulidae:
Acracantha Skuse, 1890 Angarotipula Savchenko, 1961 Austrotipula Alexander, 1920 Brachypremna Osten Sacken, 1886 Brithura Edwards, 1916 Clytocosmus Skuse, 1890 Ctenophora Meigen, 1803 Dictenidia Brullé 1833 Dolichopeza Curtis, 1825 Elnoretta Alexander, 1929 Euvaldiviana Alexander, 1981 Goniotipula Alexander, 1921 Holorusia Loew Hovapeza Alexander, 1951 Hovatipula Alexander, 1955 Idiotipula Alexander, 1921 Indotipula Edwards, 1931 Ischnotoma Skuse, 1890 Keiseromyia Alexander, 1963 Leptotarsus Guerin-meneville, 1838 Macgregoromyia Alexander, 1929 Maekistocera Wiedemann, 1821 Nephrotoma Meigen, 1803 (tiger crane flies) Nigrotipula Hudson & Vane-Wright, 1969 Orithea Meigen, 1800 Ozodicera Macquart, 1834 Phoroctenia Coquillett, 1910 Platyphasia Skuse, 1890 Prionocera Loew, 1844 Prionota van der Wulp, 1885 Pselliophora Osten-Sacken, 1887 Ptilogyna Westwood, 1835 Scamboneura Osten Sacken, 1882 Sphaerionotus de Meijere, 1919 Tanyptera Latreille, 1804 Tipula Linnaeus, 1758 Tipulodina Enderlein, 1912 Valdiviana Alexander, 1929 Zelandotipula Alexander, 1922
Ecology Most crane fly larvae are saprophagous, feeding on microbe-rich organic matter, typically decaying plant material in moist environments. However, some species are predacious, fungivorous, or phytophagous. Certain groups have adapted to extreme habitats, including caves, marine intertidal zones, and deserts, although the majority inhabit humid forests and wetlands.Marshall, Stephen A. (2012). *Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera*. Firefly Books. p. 110. .
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