They are small insectivorous lizards, with long, slender bodies, adapted for burrowing into the soil. They have a rigidly fused skull, no pterygoid teeth, and no external ears. Their eyes are greatly reduced, and covered by a scale. While female dibamids are entirely limbless, the males retain small, flap-like hind limbs, which they use to grip their partner during mating. They lay eggs with hard, calcified shells, rather than the leathery shells typical of many other reptile groups.