Generally, species in this family have a widespread distribution, although there are some that are restricted to tropical and subtropical regions.

These sporangiophores give rise to dark-colored, columellate sporagia[check spelling] covered in calcium oxalate crystals.

In Pilobolus and Utharomyces, inflated structures filled with yellow carotenoid pigments give rise to the sporophores; these two genera also produce subsporangiul vesicles.

This rotation allows the mucus surrounding the spores (under the crystals) to glue it to surface where it will await ingestion by an herbivore.

In both genera, the sporangiophore, guided by light, elongates until the sporangium is brought into contact with a solid surface.