[1] It has been sunk within the family Liphistiidae as the subfamily Heptathelinae,[2] but as of April 2024[update] was accepted by the World Spider Catalog.

[5] Other authors have maintained two separate families,[2][6] a position accepted by the World Spider Catalog as of April 2024[update].

[8] One possible relationship between the genera is shown in the following Bayesian cladogram (numbers in parentheses give the number of units in the study):[9] Liphistius Songthela (3) Vinathela (2) Ganthela (6) Luthela (12) Qiongthela (2) Ryuthela (2) Heptathela (2) As of December 2023[update], the World Spider Catalog accepted seven genera:[1] The genus Sinothela is considered a nomen dubium (dubious name).

Unlike members of the Liphistiidae, the palp of the male lacks a tibial apophysis.

Unlike members of the Liphistiidae, heptathelids do not construct signal lines radiating from the burrow.