[1] Cebrionines live in most parts of the world, but they are absent from Australia and New Zealand.

They are particularly abundant in the more arid parts of the Holarctic Region, Nearctic, Palearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Oriental.

In several genera, including Cebrio, Selonodon and Euthysanius, females are flightless, and other groups are known from males only.

Upper surfaces of body clothed with distinct hairs, setae or scales.

Ratio of head length to its greatest width (excluding eyes) 1 or less.

Occipital region without median longitudinal groove or line (endocarina).

Antennal insertions exposed from above, or concealed from above; moderately to widely separated.

Subantennal groove or cavity on head absent or very weakly developed.

Antennae filiform, or moniliform, or serrate, or pectinate or bipectinate, or plumose or biplumose.

Labrum is at least partly visible, or concealed beneath clypeus or apparently absent; free, membranous or separated by suture.

Labrum moderately to heavily sclerotized, except at base and-or apex.

Mandibular apex is strongly and abruptly curved mesally and is unidentate, truncate or rounded.

The apex of galea or maxillary lobe densely setose or spinose; without heavily sclerotized teeth or hooks.

Apical maxillary palpomere cylindrical to fusiform; at least as wide as or longer than preapical one.

Lateral pronotal carinae complete, or incomplete, or absent; simple; visible for their entire lengths from above, or not visible for their entire length from above; without a raised margin.

Posterior edge of pronotum more or less straight or evenly rounded, or distinctly sinuate or variously lobed; simple; not or vaguely margined, or with narrow raised margin or bead.

Discal carinae of pronotum absent, or located on posterior angles only.

Prosternum in front of coxae concave or biconcave, or flat to moderately convex.

Prosternal process complete; narrowed apically, or parallel-sided, or gradually expanded and then narrowed; flat, concave, or only slightly elevated or curved behind coxae, or strongly elevated and curved dorsally behind coxae; slightly overlapping mesoventrite, or moderately to strongly overlapping mesoventrite.

Procoxal cavities internally open, or closed by slender bar.

Mesocoxal cavities open laterally; not partly closed by metepisterna.

Mesoventral process absent or not extending to middle of mesocoxal cavity.

Mesometaventral junction absent or a point, or a posteriorly curved, angulate or acute line, or a complex fitting.

Anterior edge of metaventrite without transverse carina between mesocoxal cavities.

Exposed portion of metepisternum moderately elongate, or very long and narrow or absent.

Inner posterior angle formed at base of radial cell right or obtuse.

Legs are femoral attachment of mid trochanter transverse or slightly oblique.

Outer edge of mesotibia simple, crenulate or denticulate, or with distinct teeth or long spines.

Last visible tergite and-or sternite (7 or 8) not forming terminal spine.

Parameres individually articulated to phallobase or base of penis; not outwardly hooked.