[1] They are evolutionarily the most specialised termite group, with their highly compartmentalized hindgut lacking the flagellated protozoans common to "lower termites", which are instead replaced by bacteria and archaea.

Whereas lower termites are restricted mostly to woody tissue, higher termites have diverse diets consisting of wood, grass, leaf litter, fungi, lichen, faeces, humus and soil.

[4] The family contains the following subfamilies:[5][6][7] Imago forewing and hindwing scales either evenly or closely sized and non-overlapping.

Both forewing and hindwing scales have a developed suture with strongly sclerotized and reduced veins.

Postclypeus of the worker and imago both swollen and protruding from head capsule