thumb|right|The maxillary palps are the appendages that extend from the front of the head, then down and back, terminating below the eye.
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.
Genera
These 39 genera belong to the family Tipulidae:
- Acracantha <small>Skuse, 1890</small>
- Angarotipula <small>Savchenko, 1961</small>
- Austrotipula <small>Alexander, 1920</small>
- Brachypremna <small>Osten Sacken, 1886</small>
- Brithura <small>Edwards, 1916</small>
- Clytocosmus <small>Skuse, 1890</small>
- Ctenophora <small>Meigen, 1803</small>
- Dictenidia <small>Brullé 1833</small>
- Dolichopeza <small>Curtis, 1825</small>
- Elnoretta <small>Alexander, 1929</small>
- Euvaldiviana <small>Alexander, 1981</small>
- Goniotipula <small>Alexander, 1921</small>
- Holorusia <small>Loew</small>
- Hovapeza <small>Alexander, 1951</small>
- Hovatipula <small>Alexander, 1955</small>
- Idiotipula <small>Alexander, 1921</small>
- Indotipula <small>Edwards, 1931</small>
- Ischnotoma <small>Skuse, 1890</small>
- Keiseromyia <small>Alexander, 1963</small>
- Leptotarsus <small>Guerin-meneville, 1838</small>
- Macgregoromyia <small>Alexander, 1929</small>
- Maekistocera <small>Wiedemann, 1821</small>
- Nephrotoma <small>Meigen, 1803</small> (tiger crane flies)
- Nigrotipula <small>Hudson & Vane-Wright, 1969</small>
- Orithea <small>Meigen, 1800</small>
- Ozodicera <small>Macquart, 1834</small>
- Phoroctenia <small>Coquillett, 1910</small>
- Platyphasia <small>Skuse, 1890</small>
- Prionocera <small>Loew, 1844</small>
- Prionota <small>van der Wulp, 1885</small>
- Pselliophora <small>Osten-Sacken, 1887</small>
- Ptilogyna <small>Westwood, 1835</small>
- Scamboneura <small>Osten Sacken, 1882</small>
- Sphaerionotus <small>de Meijere, 1919</small>
- Tanyptera <small>Latreille, 1804</small>
- Tipula <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
- Tipulodina <small>Enderlein, 1912</small>
- Valdiviana <small>Alexander, 1929</small>
- Zelandotipula <small>Alexander, 1922</small>
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.