Some common characteristics seen throughout the species include: development of coenocytic mycelium, saprotrophic lifestyles, and filamentous.

A genetic study of Zygomycete fungi performed in 2016 showed that further classification of the group was possible, thus splitting it into Zoopagomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Kickxellomycotina, and Mucoromycotina.

The study put these groups as being sister to Dikarya, but without further research, their exact locations in Fungi remain unknown.

These groups originally comprised Zygomycota alongside others that were assigned to Glomeromycota, which was elevated to phylum in 2001.

[5] Often referred to as pin molds, members of this order produce sporangia held up on hyphae, called sporangiophores.

The most studied genera in this order is Mortierella, which contains species that cause crown rot in strawberries.

Parasitic species seen in Mucorales and Mortierellales cause infections in crops and immune compromised animals.

Arbuscular endomycorrhizal interactions are when the fungi is allowed to enter the plant, and inhabit special cells.

Several studies have observed fossils of some potential members forming mycorrhizal interactions with ancient plants.

[6] Some species in the genus Mucor are well known for causing crown rot in cereal plants and damage to stored foods.

A genome study of Rhizophagus irregularis performed in 2013 supported the hypothesis that Glomeromycota was responsible for early plant-fungi symbiotic relationships.

[6] Phylogenetic studies have been unable to place Mucoromycotina in any definitive location within fungi, however some research has suggested that the lineage is fairly old.

Some species are among the first to colonize new roots, and others have shared a relationship with spruce trees, though the exact nature in unknown.

Fungal infection seen in animals with compromised immune systems, meaning the host is already sick before the fungus invades and inhabits the body.

[9] The study focused on species isolated from Antarctica, with the intention of identifying potentially useful adaptations.

They found that the Mortierella species examined was shown to have some insecticidal properties against waxmoth and housefly larvae.

[10] Such an issue impacts the ability to produce extensive phylogenetic trees, resulting in the currently unknown location of the phylum in fungi.