Previous Taxonomy Releases

The data published below tracks the development of ICTV taxonomy from the publication of the First Report in 1971. To view the corresponding taxonomy tree, click on the hyper-linked year next to the release.

The early published reports consisted of brief summaries of the genera officially recognized by ICTV (and a small number of families) with lists of viruses that were considered members and possible members of these genera. One of the member viruses was identified as the type member. Plant viruses were presented in ‘groups’ until more data were available to determine whether these groups corresponded to genera or families. All such groups had disappeared by 1993. Virus species were systematically introduced for the Seventh Report (1999). In many cases, these species lists corresponded to the viruses listed earlier as genus members but in some genera closely related viruses were classified into a single species. This explains the apparent drop in total numbers of species recognized between 1998 and 1999. Possible or probable members of genera and families were then listed as ‘tentative species’.

For the purpose of these pages, the viruses listed as genus ‘members’ from 1971-1995 are treated as species. The ‘groups’ are usually treated as genera. No attempt has been made to list ‘possible members’ or ‘tentative species’. Where changes to taxonomy occurred, links are provided to proposal documents or other records (e.g. minutes recording the results of ICTV ballots) where available. Before about 1996, there were not usually specific proposals and ballots of ICTV members to establish new member viruses (or species) and the lists were revised (sometimes extensively) by the relevant Study Groups when each ICTV Report was published. Many changes can therefore only be traced to the publication of a particular Report.

Below is a list of articles published by the ICTV in Archives of Virology detailing each new taxonomy release. Click on the 'AoV Download' link to download a pdf of the article:

  • Changes to virus taxonomy and the Statutes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2020). Walker PJ, Siddell SG, Lefkowitz EJ, Mushegian AR, Adriaenssens EM, Dempsey DM, Dutilh BE, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Hendrickson RC, Junglen S, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Nibert M, Orton RJ, Rubino L, Sabanadzovic S, Simmonds P, Smith DB, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Davison AJ. Arch Virol. 2020 Nov;165(11):2737-2748. PMID: 32816125.
  • Changes to virus taxonomy and the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2019). Walker PJ, Siddell SG, Lefkowitz EJ, Mushegian AR, Dempsey DM, Dutilh BE, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Hendrickson RC, Junglen S, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Nibert M, Rubino L, Sabanadzovic S, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Davison AJ. Arch Virol. 2019 Sep;164(9):2417-2429. doi: 10.1007/s00705-019-04306-w. PMID: 31187277.
  • Changes to taxonomy and the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2018). Arch Virol. 2018 May 12. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-3847-1. PubMed PMID: 29754305.AoV Download
  • Changes to taxonomy and the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2017). Adams MJ, Lefkowitz EJ, King AMQ, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Mushegian AR, Nibert M, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfaçon H, Siddell SG, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Gorbalenya AE, Davison AJ.  Archives of Virology. Apr 22. PMID: 28434098. AoV Download
  • Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2016). Adams MJ, Lefkowitz EJ, King AM, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Mushegian AR, Nibert M, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfaçon H, Siddell SG, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Gorbalenya AE, Davison AJ. Arch Virol. 2016 Oct;161(10):2921-49. PubMed PMID: 27424026. AoV Download
  • Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2015). Adams MJ, Lefkowitz EJ, King AM, Bamford DH, Breitbart M, Davison AJ, Ghabrial SA, Gorbalenya AE, Knowles NJ, Krell P, Lavigne R, Prangishvili D, Sanfaçon H, Siddell SG, Simmonds P, Carstens EB. Arch Virol. 2015 Jul;160(7):1837-50. PubMed PMID: 25913692. AoV Download
  • Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2014). Adams MJ, Lefkowitz EJ, King AM, Carstens EB. Arch Virol. 2014 Oct;159(10):2831-41. PubMed PMID: 24906522. AoV Download
  • Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2013). Adams MJ, King AM, Carstens EB. Arch Virol. 2013 Sep;158(9):2023-30. PubMed PMID: 23580178. AoV Download
  • Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2012). Adams MJ, Carstens EB. Arch Virol. 2012 Jul;157(7):1411-22. PubMed PMID: 22481600. AoV Download
  • Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2009). Carstens EB. Arch Virol. 2010;155(1):133-46. PubMed PMID: 19960211. AoV Download
  • Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2008). Carstens EB, Ball LA. Arch Virol. 2009;154(7):1181-8. PubMed PMID: 19495937. AoV Download

Historical Taxonomy Browser