Family: Ouroboviridae (interim)
This is a summary page created by the ICTV Report Editors using information from associated Taxonomic Proposals and the Master Species List.
Edited by: Arvind Varsani
Posted: November 2024
Summary
The family Ouroboviridae includes ssDNA(+/-) viruses of invertebrates, vertebrates (Table 1 Ouroboviridae). The family Ouroboviridae was established in 2024 (Master Species List #39).
Table 1 Ouroboviridae. Characteristics of members of the family Ouroboviridae.
| Characteristic | Description |
| Example | hermit crab associated circular virus I0085A5 (KR528556), species Aretevirus hermico, genus Aretevirus |
| Virion | Unknown (predicted single-jelly roll capsid) |
| Genome | ssDNA(+/-), 1 circular segment, 1.2–2.6 kb (Figure 1 Ouroboviridae) |
| Replication | Rolling-circle, SF3 helicase |
| Translation | unknown |
| Host range | Invertebrates, vertebrates |
| Taxonomy | Realm Monodnaviria, kingdom Shotokuvirae, phylum Cressdnaviricota, class Arfiviricetes, order Gredzevirales: 30 genera, 50 species (Figure 2 Ouroboviridae) |
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| Figure 1 Ouroboviridae. Genome organisation of hermit crab associated circular virus I0085A5, a member of the family Ouroboviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accession KR528556. |
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| Figure 2 Ouroboviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Ouroboviridae. |
Derivation of names
Aretevirus: from Aretê - queen of the Phaeacians
Boebeisivirus: from Boebeïs (+i) - lake in ancient Magnesia
Demetevirus: from Demeter - goddess of the grain harvest
Doliovirus: from Dolios - an aged servant of Penelope
Dorisivirus: from Doris (+i) - a Nereid, daugther of Tethys
Eurynomevirus: from Eurynome - an Oceanid, daughter of Tethys
Gorgovirus: from Gorgon - head of Medusa
Heravirus: from Hera - daughter of Kronos and Rhea
Horusivirus: from Horus (+i) - child of Isis and Osiris
Ioniavirus: from Ionia - west coast of Asia Minor (Homer's Odyssey)
Kadmovirus: from Kadmos - founder of Thebes
Kreonivirus: from Kreon (+i) - king of Thebes
Lamposivirus: from Lampos (+i) - one of Dawn's horses
Mantiovirus: from Mantios - son of Melampous
Naiadivirus: from Naiad (+i) - spirit who guards freshwater
Otosivirus: from Otos (+i) - brother of Ephialtes
Ouroboviridae: from ouroboros, a symbol depicting a serpent eating its own tail, alluding to the genome circularity of viruses of the family; the suffix viridae for family taxa.
Patroklovirus: from Patroklos - Achilles' best friend
Perimedevirus: from Perimedes - one of Odysseus' companions
Peronelivirus: from Pero - daughter of Neleus
Persevirus: from Persê - daughter of Ocean
Proteusivirus: from Proteus - old man of the sea
Pylenevirus: from Pylene - town in ancient Aetolia
Pythorivirus: from Pytho - Homer's name for Delphi
Rhipevirus: from Rhipe - city in ancient Arcadia
Stentovirus: from Stentor - Herald of the Argives
Styxivirus: from Styx (+i) - a river in the underworld
Tantalovirus: Tantalos - early king of Lydia
Taphiavirus: from Taphians - pirates of the western seas
Telemovirus: from Telemos - the seer of the Cyclops
Tethyvirus: from Tethys - a Titan, wife of Ocean