This genus belongs to the family Zapsychraceae, order Zapsychrales, class Velaminicoccia, phylum Omnitrophota. Available cell size data indicate small cells for members of the genus. Large ORFs are common in the genus. Some components of the tight-adherence complex is encoded in these genomes as well as genes for respiratory pathways. Assemblies originate from wastewater, a bioreactor, soil and groundwater. Where reported, assemblies were recovered from samples taken at circumneutral or slightly basic pH, microaerobic conditions and between 10 °C and 30 °C. The nomenclatural type for the genus is the species Zapsychrus exilii.