Etymology of Taxon Names

The information below provides a list containing descriptions of the origins of ICTV taxon names starting at the rank of realm and going down to the rank of family. This information is derived from the proposals that were submitted when each taxon was created. Links to these proposals, links to ICTV report chapters, and links to publications (through PMIDs) are provided when available.

We thank Stuart Siddell for compiling this list of name origins. Etymological information for taxa below the rank of family, can be found in the relevant ICTV Online (10th) Report chapters. If you have any comments or corrections, please contact us by sending an email to info@ictv.global.

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Enter all or part of a taxon name (family rank or higher)

Riboviria

Taxon: Spumaretrovirinae Rank: subfamily
Lineage: Riboviria | Pararnavirae | Artverviricota | Revtraviricetes | Ortervirales | Retroviridae | Spumaretrovirinae
Report Chapter: Retroviridae
Taxon: Bovispumavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Riboviria | Pararnavirae | Artverviricota | Revtraviricetes | Ortervirales | Retroviridae | Spumaretrovirinae | Bovispumavirus
Report Chapter: Retroviridae
Taxon: Equispumavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Riboviria | Pararnavirae | Artverviricota | Revtraviricetes | Ortervirales | Retroviridae | Spumaretrovirinae | Equispumavirus
Report Chapter: Retroviridae
Taxon: Felispumavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Riboviria | Pararnavirae | Artverviricota | Revtraviricetes | Ortervirales | Retroviridae | Spumaretrovirinae | Felispumavirus
Report Chapter: Retroviridae
Taxon: Prosimiispumavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Riboviria | Pararnavirae | Artverviricota | Revtraviricetes | Ortervirales | Retroviridae | Spumaretrovirinae | Prosimiispumavirus
Report Chapter: Retroviridae
Taxon: Simiispumavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Riboviria | Pararnavirae | Artverviricota | Revtraviricetes | Ortervirales | Retroviridae | Spumaretrovirinae | Simiispumavirus
Report Chapter: Retroviridae
Taxon: Tombendovirales Rank: order
Lineage: Riboviria | Tombendovirales
Proposal: 2024.021P.Riboviria_1nord.zip

Etymology: from tombusvirid-dependent; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Pamosaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Riboviria | Tombendovirales | Pamosaviridae
Proposal: 2024.021P.Riboviria_1nord.zip

Etymology: from Panicum mosaic virus and satellite; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Sarthroviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Riboviria | Tombendovirales | Sarthroviridae
Proposal: 2015.002a-gS.A.v3.Sarthroviridae.pdf
Report Chapter: Sarthroviridae

Etymology: from small virus of arthropods, referring to the host (giant freshwater prawns) of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Macronovirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Riboviria | Tombendovirales | Sarthroviridae | Macronovirus
Report Chapter: Sarthroviridae
Taxon: Tomosaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Riboviria | Tombendovirales | Tomosaviridae
Proposal: 2024.021P.Riboviria_1nord.zip

Etymology: from tobacco mosaic virus and satellite ; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Tonesaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Riboviria | Tonesaviridae
Proposal: 2024.021P.Riboviria_1nord.zip

Etymology: from tobacco necrosis virus and satellite; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Ribozyviria

Taxon: Ribozyviria Rank: realm
Lineage: Ribozyviria
Proposal: 2020.012D.R.Ribozyviria.zip

Etymology: from ribozyme, a unique and defining component of viruses of the realm; the suffix -viria for realm taxa

Taxon: Kolmioviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae
Proposal: 2020.012D.R.Ribozyviria.zip
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae

Etymology: from the Finnish kolmio, meaning "triangle", a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Greek letter Δ δέλτα (délta), referring to the genus Deltavirus, a taxon in the family that was named after delta-antigen; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Daazvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Daazvirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Dagazvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Dagazvirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Daletvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Daletvirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Dalvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Dalvirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Deevirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Deevirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Deltavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Deltavirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Dobrovirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Dobrovirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Donvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Donvirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Perideltavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Perideltavirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Perithurisazvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Perithurisazvirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae
Taxon: Thurisazvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Ribozyviria | Kolmioviridae | Thurisazvirus
Report Chapter: Kolmioviridae

Singelaviria

Taxon: Singelaviria Rank: realm
Lineage: Singelaviria
Proposal: 2024.010D.Varidnaviria_reorg.zip

Etymology: from the Latin singulus, meaning single, and the Latin gelata, meaning jelly (a reference to single jelly-roll capsid protein); the suffix -viria for realm taxa

Taxon: Helvetiavirae Rank: kingdom
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from the Latin helvetia meaning "Swiss", a referring to the Swiss roll (an alternative name for jelly roll) and hence a reference to the jelly roll fold of the capsid proteins of viruses in this taxon; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Dividoviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from the Esperanto divido, meaning "division", referring to the split double jelly roll (two vertical single jelly roll) major capsid protein encoded by viruses in this taxon; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Laserviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from Serpentine Lake, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia, where archaeal virus SH1, the first isolated virus of this taxon, was discovered; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Ducavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Ducavirales
Proposal: 2025.003A.Ac.v3.Tailless_icosahedral_2nf.zip

Etymology: from the Lithuanian du, meaning "two" and capsid, referring to two major capsid proteins of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑virales for order taxa

Taxon: Nanicoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Ducavirales | Nanicoviridae
Proposal: 2025.003A.Ac.v3.Tailless_icosahedral_2nf.zip

Etymology: from Danakil Nanohaloarchaeota icosahedral virus 1, the founding member of this family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Halopanivirales Rank: order
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Halopanivirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from Haloarcula hispanica, the host of archaeal virus SH1, the founding member of this clade; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Matsushitaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Halopanivirales | Matsushitaviridae
Proposal: 2020.100B.R.Matsushitaviridae.zip

Etymology: to honour the Japanese virologist Isao Matsushita, who isolated Thermus phage IN93, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Simuloviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Halopanivirales | Simuloviridae
Proposal: 2020.151B.R.Simuloviridae.zip
Report Chapter: Simuloviridae

Etymology: from the Latin simulo meaning "pretend", referring to the conclusion that genomes of the viruses in this family were first thought to be plasmids; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Yingchengvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Halopanivirales | Simuloviridae | Yingchengvirus
Report Chapter: Simuloviridae
Taxon: Sphaerolipoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Halopanivirales | Sphaerolipoviridae
Proposal: 2013.001a-oB.A.v4.Sphaerolipoviridae.pdf
Report Chapter: Sphaerolipoviridae

Etymology: from the Latin sphaera, meaning “sphere” and the Ancient Greek λίπος (lípos), meaning “fat”, referring to virion morphology and the internal protein-rich membrane vesicle of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Alphasphaerolipovirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Halopanivirales | Sphaerolipoviridae | Alphasphaerolipovirus
Report Chapter: Sphaerolipoviridae
Taxon: Salinicovirales Rank: order
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Salinicovirales
Proposal: 2025.003A.Ac.v3.Tailless_icosahedral_2nf.zip

Etymology: from saline, referring to the environment in which these viruses were found, and icosahedral, referring to the head morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑virales for order taxa

Taxon: Halicoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Singelaviria | Helvetiavirae | Dividoviricota | Laserviricetes | Salinicovirales | Halicoviridae
Proposal: 2025.003A.Ac.v3.Tailless_icosahedral_2nf.zip

Etymology: from Danakil Halobacteriales icosahedral virus 1, the founding member of this family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Varidnaviria

Taxon: Varidnaviria Rank: realm
Lineage: Varidnaviria
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from various DNA viruses; the suffix -viria for realm taxa

Taxon: Abadenavirae Rank: kingdom
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae
Proposal: 2024.010D.Varidnaviria_reorg.zip

Etymology: from the Latin ab, meaning "away, removed, not", and adenain-like capsid; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Produgelaviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota
Proposal: 2024.010D.Varidnaviria_reorg.zip

Etymology: from prokaryote, and the Latin duobus gelata, meaning "double jelly" (a reference to double jelly-roll capsid protein); the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Ainoaviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Ainoaviricetes
Proposal: 2022.002B.Ainoaviricetes_Finnlakeviridae_nc.zip

Etymology: from the Finnish ainoa, meaning "only" or "single", referring to the single-stranded DNA genome of viruses in this taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Lautamovirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Ainoaviricetes | Lautamovirales
Proposal: 2022.002B.Ainoaviricetes_Finnlakeviridae_nc.zip

Etymology: to honor Jaana K.H. Bamford (nee Lautamo) who established phage research at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Finnlakeviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Ainoaviricetes | Lautamovirales | Finnlakeviridae
Proposal: 2019.057B.zip
Report Chapter: Finnlakeviridae

Etymology: from Finnish and lake, referring to the location where Flavobacterium phage FLiP, a member of the family, was isolated; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Finnlakevirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Ainoaviricetes | Lautamovirales | Finnlakeviridae | Finnlakevirus
Report Chapter: Finnlakeviridae
Taxon: Belvinaviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes
Proposal: 2024.010D.Varidnaviria_reorg.zip

Etymology: from Belfryvirales and Vinavirales; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Atroposvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Atroposvirales
Proposal: 2022.002A.Verdandiviridae_nf_Atrospovirales_no.zip

Etymology: from Atropos, one of the three Fates in Greek mythology, equivalent to Norns in Norse mythology; the suffix -virales for order taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Skuldviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Atroposvirales | Skuldviridae
Proposal: 2022.002A.Verdandiviridae_nf_Atrospovirales_no.zip

Etymology: from Skuld, one of the three Norns, the most powerful beings in Norse mythology that govern the lives of gods and mortals; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Belfryvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Belfryvirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from belfry, a tower (turret), referencing the turret-like appendages that decorate the capsid shell of viruses in this taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Turriviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Belfryvirales | Turriviridae
Proposal: 2013.002a-gB.A.v3.Turriviridae.pdf
Report Chapter: Turriviridae

Etymology: from the Latin turris, meanimg "turret", referring to the turreted structure of the icosahedral virion of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Alphaturrivirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Belfryvirales | Turriviridae | Alphaturrivirus
Report Chapter: Turriviridae
Taxon: Coyopavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Coyopavirales
Proposal: 2022.001A.Nakonvirales_Maximonvirales_Coyopavirales_3no.zip

Etymology: from Coyopa, the god of thunder in Mayan mythology; the suffix -virales for order taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Chaacviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Coyopavirales | Chaacviridae
Proposal: 2022.001A.Nakonvirales_Maximonvirales_Coyopavirales_3no.zip
Report Chapter: Chaacviridae

Etymology: from Chaac, the god of rain in Mayan mythology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Vinavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Vinavirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from Viña del Mar, Chile, where phage PM2, a member of the taxon, was first isolated; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Asemoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Vinavirales | Asemoviridae
Proposal: 2024.038B.Vinavirales_3nf_1mf_7ng_5ns_3ms.zip

Etymology: from the Greek asemos, meaning unknown, fameless or obscure, referring to the fact that phage NO16 was found to be globally distributed as a vibrio prophage but had not been detected using standard prophage-finding tools; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Autolykiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Vinavirales | Autolykiviridae
Proposal: 2020.016B.R.Autolykiviridae.zip

Etymology: from Autolykos, a Greek mythological character, who was described as being difficult to catch; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Corticoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Vinavirales | Corticoviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1978.pdf
Report Chapter: Corticoviridae
PubMed ID: 12134022

Etymology: derived from the Latin cortex, meaning “crust” or “bark”, referring to the protective layer of the capsid protein in virions of viruses in the family ; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Merivirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Vinavirales | Corticoviridae | Merivirus
Report Chapter: Corticoviridae
Taxon: Mestraviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Vinavirales | Mestraviridae
Proposal: 2024.038B.Vinavirales_3nf_1mf_7ng_5ns_3ms.zip

Etymology: from Mestra, the wife of Autolykus; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Parnassusviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Abadenavirae | Produgelaviricota | Belvinaviricetes | Vinavirales | Parnassusviridae
Proposal: 2024.038B.Vinavirales_3nf_1mf_7ng_5ns_3ms.zip

Etymology: from Mount Parnassus where Autolykus lived in Greek mythology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Bamfordvirae Rank: kingdom
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: to honour Dennis Bamford who first promoted the evolutionary unity of all DJR-MCP (double jelly-roll major capsid protein) viruses; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Nucleocytoviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs), an unofficial name for this group of viruses; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Megaviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from the Greek μέγας (mégas), meaning "large", referring to the extremely large genome size of viruses in this taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Algavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Algavirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from alga, referring to the hosts of many viruses in this taxon: the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Phycodnaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Algavirales | Phycodnaviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1990.pdf
PubMed ID: 12181671

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek φῦκος (phûkos), meaning “seaweed” and DNA for deoxyribonucleic acid, referring to the host (marine or freshwater eukaryotic algae) and the dsDNA genome of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Imitervirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Imitervirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from the French imiter, meaning "to mimic", referring to mimiviruses (microbe-imitating); the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Orthomivirineae Rank: suborder
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Imitervirales | Orthomivirineae
Proposal: 2025.011F.A.v2.Imitervirales_newtaxa.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek ὀρθός (ortho), meaning "straight" or "correct" and Imitervirales, the parent taxon; the suffix ‑virineae for suborder taxa

Taxon: Mimiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Imitervirales | Orthomivirineae | Mimiviridae
Proposal: 2005.004F.04.Mimiviridae.pdf

Etymology: from microbe mimicking because the large particle size of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Paramivirineae Rank: suborder
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Imitervirales | Paramivirineae
Proposal: 2025.011F.A.v2.Imitervirales_newtaxa.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek πᾰρᾰ (para), meaning "related" or "similar" and Imitervirales, the parent taxon; the suffix ‑virineae for suborder taxa

Taxon: Allomimiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Imitervirales | Paramivirineae | Allomimiviridae
Proposal: 2022.004F.Imitervirales_reorg.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek ἄλλος (állos), meaning "other" or "another" and Mimiviridae, referring to the evolutionary relationship between the two families; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Mesomimiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Imitervirales | Paramivirineae | Mesomimiviridae
Proposal: 2022.004F.Imitervirales_reorg.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek μέσος (mésos), meaning "middle" and Mimiviridae, referring to the evolutionary relationship of viruses in the two families; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Schizomimiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Imitervirales | Paramivirineae | Schizomimiviridae
Proposal: 2022.004F.Imitervirales_reorg.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek σχίζω (skhízō) meaning "split" and Mimiviridae, referring to the evolutionary relationship of viruses in the two families; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Pimascovirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from pithoviruses, iridoviruses, marseilleviruses and ascoviruses, members of the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Ocovirineae Rank: suborder
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ocovirineae
Proposal: 2024.005F.Pimascovirales_reorg.zip

Etymology: from the Latin ovoideum cum ore meaning "ovoid with a mouth", referring to the virion morphology; the suffix -virinae for suborder taxa

Taxon: Hydriviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ocovirineae | Hydriviridae
Proposal: 2024.005F.Pimascovirales_reorg.zip

Etymology: from hydrivirus; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Orpheoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ocovirineae | Orpheoviridae
Proposal: 2023.011F.Pimascovirales_3newfam.zip

Etymology: from Orpheus, a Thracian musician, poet and prophet in Greek mythology, and the addition of the vowel o; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa. Connection uncertain

Taxon: Pithoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ocovirineae | Pithoviridae
Proposal: 2023.011F.Pimascovirales_3newfam.zip

Etymology: from Ancient Greek πίθος (píthos) a large container, referring to the morphology of virions of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Orthocedratvirinae Rank: subfamily
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ocovirineae | Pithoviridae | Orthocedratvirinae
Proposal: 2023.011F.Pimascovirales_3newfam.zip

Etymology: from the French cédrat, a type of lemon, referring to the morhology of virions of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Ascoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ascoviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1998.pdf
Report Chapter: Ascoviridae
PubMed ID: 19216438

Etymology: phonetically from the Ancient Greek ἀσκός (askós), meaning "tube" or “sac”, referring to the virion-containing vesicles produced by cleavage of host cells, which are characteristic for viruses of this family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Ascovirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ascoviridae | Ascovirus
Report Chapter: Ascoviridae
Taxon: Toursvirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Ascoviridae | Toursvirus
Report Chapter: Ascoviridae
Taxon: Iridoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1975.pdf
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
PubMed ID: 28648249

Etymology: from Iris (iridos), the daughter of mythological Greek gods, whose sign was the rainbow, referring to the iridescent appearance of invertebrates infected with viruses of the family as well as centrifuged pellets of virions; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Alphairidovirinae Rank: subfamily
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Alphairidovirinae
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Lymphocystivirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Alphairidovirinae | Lymphocystivirus
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Megalocytivirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Alphairidovirinae | Megalocytivirus
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Ranavirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Alphairidovirinae | Ranavirus
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Betairidovirinae Rank: subfamily
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Betairidovirinae
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Chloriridovirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Betairidovirinae | Chloriridovirus
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Decapodiridovirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Betairidovirinae | Decapodiridovirus
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Iridovirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Iridoviridae | Betairidovirinae | Iridovirus
Report Chapter: Iridoviridae
Taxon: Marseilleviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Pimascovirales | Marseilleviridae
Proposal: 2012.002a-hF.A.v5.Marseilleviridae.pdf

Etymology: from Marseille, the French city where Marseillevirus marseillevirus, a member of the family, was discovered; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Mamonoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Megaviricetes | Mamonoviridae
Proposal: 2022.005F.Mamonoviridae_newfam.zip

Etymology: from the Japanese mamono (魔物), meaning “monster”, referring to the term "giant" used to describe the genome and virions of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Mriyaviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Mriyaviricetes
Proposal: 2024.010D.Varidnaviria_reorg.zip

Etymology: from Ukrainian мрія [outdated transliteration: mriya], meaning dream; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Yaraviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Mriyaviricetes | Yaraviridae
Proposal: 2021.008F.R.Yaraviridae_newfam.zip

Etymology: from Yara, the mother of waters, a mythological character of the Tupi indigenous people of Brazil; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Pokkesviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Pokkesviricetes
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from the Middle English pokkes, meaning "pox", referring to the disease manifestation associated with some viruses in the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Asfuvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Pokkesviricetes | Asfuvirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from Asfarviridae and "faustovirus" (a likely member of the order together with "pacmanviruses" and "kaumoebaviruses"); the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Asfarviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Pokkesviricetes | Asfuvirales | Asfarviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1998.pdf
Report Chapter: Asfarviridae
PubMed ID: 6695498

Etymology: from African swine fever and related viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Asfivirus Rank: genus
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Pokkesviricetes | Asfuvirales | Asfarviridae | Asfivirus
Report Chapter: Asfarviridae
Taxon: Chitovirales Rank: order
Lineage: Varidnaviria | Bamfordvirae | Nucleocytoviricota | Pokkesviricetes | Chitovirales
Proposal: 2019.003G.zip

Etymology: from the name of a higher-rank taxon for poxviruses proposed by Lwoff and Tournier in 1966 (“Chitovirales”; from the Greek χιτών, (khitōn), a tunic garment, referring to the morphological structure of poxviruses); the suffix -virales for order taxa