[1] Most of the members of the group are somewhat slender, often with fairly soft, flexible elytra, and typically hairy or scaly.

[2] Some cleroids, especially in Cleridae and the melyrid subfamily Malachiinae, have bright aposematic colouration to deter predators.

Some are hard-bodied beetles with fully sclerotised elytra that match the shape of the abdomen (Trogossitidae, Lophocateridae, Peltidae).

Phycosecidae scavenge dead animals on bare seashore, while Acanthocnemus nigricans (the sole species of Acanthocnemidae) is attracted to recently burnt wood.

[1] Families included are:[1] The melyrid lineage consists of Phycosecidae, Rhadalidae, Mauroniscidae, Prionoceridae and Melyridae.