Dibamidae

Conrad, J. L., 2008, Phylogeny And Systematics Of Squamata (Reptilia) Based On Morphology, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2008 (310), pp. 1-182 : 106

Dibamidae + Amphisbaenia + Serpentes

(figs. 54C, 55C, 56B)

DIAGNOSIS: This mostly limbless clade of scincophidians is diagnosed by 5(1) presence of an interorbital septum, 41(3) absence of the lacrimal, 98(1) absence of a squamosal, 101(0) absence of a palpebral, 132(2) absence of a crista prootica, 133(2) braincase closure primarily through downgrowth of the parietals, 137(0) absence of the crista alaris prootica, 140(1) entocarotid fossa indistinct/absent, 145(1) anterior opening of the Vidian canal opens dorsally on the dorsum sella, 151(1) anterior location for the spheno-occipital tubercle, 155(1) occipital recess visible in ventral view (not hidden by spheno-occipital tubercles), 159(3) quadrate suspended mostly from the opisthotic, 162(2) absence of a tympanic crest, 232(2) absence of distinct neural spines, 256(1) presence of a posterodorsal pseudotuberculum on the ribs, 305(0) dorsal body osteoderms absent, 307(0) ventral body osteoderms absent, 313(1) eyeball reduced and covered externally by a head scale, and 319(1) a flattened foretongue (see character description above, Estes et al., 1988, and Schwenk, 1988).