These robust, legless, elongated lizards are up to two feet in length. Long, sharp, wedge-shaped snouts are covered with small scales.
Mouths have numerous large, backward-pointing, sharp teeth.
Color and markings are extremely varied - most are striped, some are not. Yellowish, reddish, gray, black, white or brown. Special scales which aide in reproduction are about 5mm long. Their tongues are broad and fleshy, unlike snakes' tongues. They are also present in New Guinea, but absent in Tasmania.