The genus was circumscribed in 1935 by the Finnish lichenologist Veli Räsänen, who assigned Biatoropsis usnearum as the type species.

The fungus produces reproductive structures called basidiomata that vary in both shape and colour, with a waxy-gelatinous texture similar to jelly.

[5] At a microscopic level, the internal tissue (context) consists of thread-like cells called hyphae that lack specialised connecting structures known as clamps.

The fungus penetrates its host using specialised feeding structures called haustoria, which have a distinctive twisted or convoluted form characteristic of the Tremellales order of fungi.

Unlike some related fungi, Biatoropsis lacks specialised sterile cells called hyphidia and cystidia in its hymenium.