The Titanoptera are an extinct order of insects from the Triassic

Triassic

The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...

 period. They were very large by comparison with modern insects, some having wingspans of up to 36 centimetres (14.2 in).

They were related to modern grasshopper

Orthoptera

Orthoptera is an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.Many insects in this order produce sound by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps...

s, but much larger, with grasping forelegs and elongated mandible

Mandible (arthropod)

thumb|250px|The mandibles of a [[Bull ant]]The mandible of an arthropod is either of a pair of mouthparts used for biting, cutting and holding food. Mandibles are often simply referred to as jaws. Mandibles are present in the extant subphyla Myriapoda , Crustacea and Hexapoda...

s. Another distinctive feature was the presence of prominent fluted regions on the forewings, which may have been used in stridulation

Stridulation

Stridulation is the act of producing sound by rubbing together certain body parts. This behavior is mostly associated with insects, but other animals are known to do this as well, such as a number of species of fishes, snakes and spiders...

. The general shape and anatomy of the Titanopterans suggests that they were predators.

Classification

Order Titanoptera

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