Pronotal-hood
Guides
Epimetopidae
Hooded Shore Beetles
Epimetopidae is a small family of semi-aquatic beetles in the superfamily Hydrophiloidea, comprising approximately 72 described species across three genera. The family exhibits a disjunct distribution: Epimetopus is restricted to the New World (Neotropical and Nearctic regions), Eumetopus occurs in Asia, and Eupotemus is found in Africa. A distinctive feature of the family is the pronotal hood—a central projection of the pronotum that forms a shelf above the head. Females of all three genera carry egg cases on the underside of the abdomen, representing one of three independent origins of maternal care in Hydrophiloidea.
Epimetopus
hooded shore beetles
Epimetopus is a New World genus of semiaquatic beetles commonly known as hooded shore beetles, comprising 56 species ranging from Argentina to Arizona and Arkansas. The genus was revised in 2012, with 36 new species described and new collection records provided for 15 previously described species. Species diversity is concentrated in South America (37 species) and areas north of South America (17 species), with only two species known from both regions. The genus is absent from the Amazon basin and is divided into seven species groups based on morphological characters.