The genus Scaphinotus is very closely realted to the genus Cychrus. These genera contain several old growth and stenotopic forest species. They are a nice example of a highly specialised ground beetles, which have developed through their evolution the perfect shape for chasing their prey: all the Cychrus and Scaphinotus species have a very small and elongated head and jaws, which are prefectly designed to capture terrestrial snails in their shells.