Tenebrionid beetles make up a significant portion of the insect fauna of the Bahamian archipelago, yet in spite of centuries of European occupation, they remain poorly known. A diversity of tenebrionid habitats is found on Bahamian islands. An example survey of the single isolated island of San Salvador is presented, with comments on patterns of distribution and endemism among the islands. Recent fieldwork on a few selected islands to date has revealed a surprising richness composed of widespread Antillean species, adventive elements, and presumed endemics. Many of the latter belong to the genera Branchus, Diastolinus and Trientoma, all flightless and proving to be information-rich for biogeographic analyses. Islands of each of the historically isolated Bahamian banks, with complete inundation during the Pliocene, offer unique opportunities for studies of dispersal, colonization, and speciation among islands.