Type species: Tetragonoschema chrysomelinum Thomson, 1857 (by monotypy; currently T. quadratum (Buquet, 1841)).
Black, bronze or multicolorous, shortened (sometimes almost as long as wide) species; elytra usually very short, flat, conspicuously uneven with one common, medial depression and with deep lateral and preapical depressions; elytral epipleura wide, well-developed, nearly or completely reaching elytral apex (Figs. 59, 60); frons usually deeply impressed with prominent swellings above antennal insertions, rarely frons convex; pronotum less convex, transverse, usually with more or less distinct lateroposterior depressions; antennae and tarsi black; aedeagus spindle-shaped or elongate, parameres very often with lateral hooks or spines (Figs. 68, 69, 75–78).