[3][4] The family Mycoblastaceae, proposed by the German lichenologist Josef Hafellner to contain the genus Mycoblastus, was also published in the same 1984 publication;[2] it was later placed into synonymy with Tephromelataceae.

They mostly engage in a symbiotic relationship with chlorococcoid green algae, specifically from the genus Trebouxia, to form lichenised structures; instances of them living on other lichens (lichenicolous) are rare.

[5] The internal structure of these reproductive bodies (the hamathecium) consists of paraphyses, which are filament-like cells that can be simple or branched and often pigmented.

For asexual reproduction, Tephromelataceae lichens produce pycnidia, which are small, flask-shaped structures that release simple, rod-like to thread-like spores called conidia.

[5] The chemical makeup of these lichens is diverse, including compounds like depsides (e.g., atranorin), depsidones, dibenzofurans, fatty acids, and lichexanthone.