They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

[1][2][3] Like other caecilians, they superficially resemble worms or snakes.

[3] They are the sister group to the newly discovered Chikilidae.

[4] Herpelidae occur primarily in Central and East Africa, barely reaching West Africa (southeastern Nigeria), and northern parts of Southern Africa (Malawi, possibly Zambia).

[1] There are two genera with ten species in total:[1][2]