The South American genus Hipalmus Bates, 1870 (Tenebrioninae: Tenebrionini), distributed in the Pacific coast of Peru and Ecuador, is revised using external morphology and including for the first time details on sexual dimorphism, defensive glands, and male and female genitalia. The genus and its species are redescribed. New distribution records, photographs of the two included species, illustrations of genital features, and distribution maps are provided. A discussion including differences in character states between Hipalmus and Zophobas Dejean, 1834 as well as the tribal placement of Hipalmus in Tenebrionini on the basis of external and internal morphology is also included. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: Zophobas lugubris Boheman, 1858 is transferred to Hipalmus, Psammetichus dissimilis Peña, 1994 is synonymized under Hipalmus costatus (Guérin-Méneville, 1831) and Hipalmus aequatorius Kolbe, 1901 is synonymized under Hipalmus lugubris (Boheman, 1858) comb. nov.