Athenaria (Abasilaria) commonly with an elongate, cylindrical body, usually divisible into three regions, physa, scapus and capitulum. Scapus often provided with tenaculi or papillae containing numerous nematocysts. Sphincter mesogloeal, simple or double. Mesenteries divisible into macro- and microcnemes. Macrocnemes as a rule six pairs; rarely only 8 macrocnemes present arranged in the same way as the perfect mesenteries in Edwardsia.
Definitions and contained taxa are those of Oscar Carlgren
as published in 1949 : Kungl Svenska Vetenskapsakadamiens Handlingar, Series
4, Volume 1, Number 1