[3][4] The name Sordariomycetes is derived from the Latin sordes (filth) because some species grow in animal feces, though growth habits vary widely across the class.

Most have perithecial (flask-shaped) fruiting bodies, but ascomata can be less frequently cleistothecial (such as in the genera Anixiella, Apodus, Boothiella, Thielavia and Zopfiella).

Members of this group can grow in soil, dung, leaf litter, and decaying wood as decomposers, as well as being fungal parasites, and insect, human, and plant pathogens.

[12][13][14] Sordariomycetes are one of the classes that can also be found in the sea, such as orders, Lulworthiales and Koralionastetales, which were placed in the subclass Lulworthiomycetidae, consist of exclusively marine taxa.

[19] Abyssomyces – Acerbiella – Acrospermoides – Ameromassaria – Amphisphaerellula – Amphisphaerina – Amphorulopsis – Amylis – Anthostomaria – Anthostomellina – Apharia – Apodothina – Apogaeumannomyces – Aquadulciospora – Aquamarina – Aropsiclus – Ascorhiza – Ascoyunnania – Assoa – Aulospora – Azbukinia – Bactrosphaeria – Barrina – Biporispora – Bombardiastrum – Brenesiella – Byrsomyces – Byssotheciella – Caleutypa – Calosphaeriopsis – Caproniella – Chaetoamphisphaeria – Charonectria – Ciliofusospora – Clohiesia – Clypeoceriospora – Clypeosphaerulina – Cryptoascus – Cryptomycina – Cryptovalsa – Cucurbitopsis – Curvatispora – Dasysphaeria – Delpinoella – Diacrochordon – Dontuzia – Dryosphaera – Endoxylina – Esfandiariomyces – Frondisphaera – Glabrotheca – Heliastrum – Hyaloderma – Hydronectria – Hypotrachynicola – Immersisphaeria – Iraniella – Khuskia – Konenia – Kravtzevia – Kurssanovia – Lecythium – Leptosacca – Leptosphaerella – Leptosporina – Lyonella – Mangrovispora – Melomastia – Microcyclephaeria – Mirannulata – Monosporascus – Myrmecridium – ?Naumovela – ?Neocryptospora – Neolamya – Neothyridaria – Oceanitis – Ophiomassaria – Ornatispora – Pareutypella – Phomatospora – Phyllocelis – Plectosphaerella – Pleocryptospora – Pleosphaeria – Pontogeneia – Porodiscus – Protocucurbitaria – Pulvinaria – Pumilus – Rehmiomycella – Rhamphosphaeria – Rhizophila – Rimaconus – Rhopographella – Rhynchosphaeria – Rivulicola – Romellina – Saccardoella – Sarcopyrenia – Sartorya – Scharifia – Scoliocarpon – Scotiosphaeria – Servaziella – Sporoctomorpha – Stearophora – Stegophorella – Stellosetifera – Stomatogenella – Sungaiicola – Synsphaeria – Tamsiniella – Thelidiella – Thyridella – Thyrotheca – Trichospermella – Trichosphaeropsis – Vleugelia – Zignoina