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 [email protected].

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

Adnaviria

Taxon: Adnaviria Rank: realm
Lineage: Adnaviria
Proposal: 2020.186B.R.Adnaviria.zip
Report Chapter: Adnaviria

Etymology: from A-form DNA, a characteristic of viruses in this realm; the suffix ‑viria for realm taxa

Taxon: Zilligvirae Rank: kingdom
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae
Proposal: 2020.186B.R.Adnaviria.zip

Etymology: to honour Wolfram Zillig, a pioneer of research on hyperthermophilic archaeal viruses; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Taleaviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota
Proposal: 2020.186B.R.Adnaviria.zip

Etymology: from the Latin talea, meaning “rod”, referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the phylum; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Tokiviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes
Proposal: 2020.186B.R.Adnaviria.zip

Etymology: from the Georgian თოკი (toki), meaning “thread”, referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the class; the suffix ‑viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Ligamenvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Ligamenvirales
Proposal: 2011.008a-cB.A.v2.Ligamenvirales.pdf

Etymology: from the Latin ligamen, meaning “string" or "thread”, referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the order; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Chiyouviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Ligamenvirales | Chiyouviridae
Proposal: 2024.005A.Bathyarchaeia_4newfam.zip

Etymology: from Chiyou, a symbol of war and invention in Chinese mythology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Lipothrixviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Ligamenvirales | Lipothrixviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1987.pdf
Report Chapter: Lipothrixviridae
PubMed ID: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327644

Etymology: from the Greek lipothrix, meaning "fat hair", referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Rudiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Ligamenvirales | Rudiviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1997.pdf
Report Chapter: Rudiviridae
PubMed ID: 10430569

Etymology: from the Latin rudi, meaning "small rod", referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Ungulaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Ligamenvirales | Ungulaviridae
Proposal: 2021.003A.R.Ungulaviridae.zip
Report Chapter: Ungulaviridae

Etymology: from the Latin ungula, meaning "claw", referring to the claw-like structures decorating the termini of the virions of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Maximonvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Maximonvirales
Proposal: 2022.001A.Nakonvirales_Maximonvirales_Coyopavirales_3no.zip

Etymology: from Maximon, a god of travelers, merchants, medicine men/women, mischief and fertility in Mayan mythology; the suffix -virales for order taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Ahmunviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Maximonvirales | Ahmunviridae
Proposal: 2022.001A.Nakonvirales_Maximonvirales_Coyopavirales_3no.zip
Report Chapter: Ahmunviridae

Etymology: from Ah Mun, the god of agriculture in Mayan mythology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Primavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Primavirales
Proposal: 2020.186B.R.Adnaviria.zip

Etymology: from the Latin prima, meaning “first”, referring to Thermoproteus tenax virus 1, the first hyperthermophilic archaeal virus to be isolated (in 1983), which is classified in this order; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Tristromaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Adnaviria | Zilligvirae | Taleaviricota | Tokiviricetes | Primavirales | Tristromaviridae
Proposal: 2016.064a-jB.A.v2.Tristromaviridae.pdf
Report Chapter: Tristromaviridae

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek τρι- (tria) meaning "three" and στρῶμα (stroma), meaning "layer", referring to a virion tripartite shell consisting of two protein layers and an external envelope; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Duplodnaviria

Taxon: Duplodnaviria Rank: realm
Lineage: Duplodnaviria
Proposal: 2019.004G.zip
Report Chapter: Duplodnaviria

Etymology: from the Latin dūplō, meaning double and DNA, referring to the fact that all founding members of the realm have double-stranded dsDNA genomes; the suffix -viria for realm taxa

Taxon: Heunggongvirae Rank: kingdom
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae
Proposal: 2019.004G.zip

Etymology: from the Cantonese 香港 (Hēunggóng), meaning (and approximately pronounced) Hong Kong— referring to Escherichia coli phage HK97, the founding member of the HK97 (Hong Kong 97)-fold major capsid protein viruses in this taxon; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Peploviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Peploviricota
Proposal: 2019.004G.zip

Etymology: from the name of a higher-rank taxon proposed by Lwoff and Tournier in 1966 (“Peplovirales”; from the Greek πέπλος (peplos)), meaning garment, referencing the unique tegument of herpesviruses; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Herviviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Peploviricota | Herviviricetes
Proposal: 2019.004G.zip

Etymology: from herpesvirus; referring to the herpesviruses, members of the class; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Herpesvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Peploviricota | Herviviricetes | Herpesvirales
Proposal: 2005.020-72.04.Herpes.pdf

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek ἕρπω (hérpō) meaning "to creep", referring to spreading blisters, with the addition of the consonant s; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Alloherpesviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Peploviricota | Herviviricetes | Herpesvirales | Alloherpesviridae
Proposal: 2005.020-72.04.Herpes.pdf
Report Chapter: Alloherpesviridae

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek ἄλλος (állos), meaning "other" and ἕρπης (hérpō), which is related to the meaning "to creep", referring to spreading blisters; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Malacoherpesviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Peploviricota | Herviviricetes | Herpesvirales | Malacoherpesviridae
Proposal: 2005.020-72.04.Herpes.pdf
Report Chapter: Malacoherpesviridae

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek μαλακός (malakós), meaning ‘soft’ and used in zoology to denote molluscs, and the Ancient Greek: ἕρπης (hérpō), which is related to the meaning "to creep", referring to spreading blisters; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Orthoherpesviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Peploviricota | Herviviricetes | Herpesvirales | Orthoherpesviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1975.pdf
Report Chapter: Herpesviridae
PubMed ID: 4538198

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek ὀρθός (orthos), meaning “correct” or “straight”, and ἕρπης (hérpō), which is related to the meaning "to creep", referring to spreading blisters; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Uroviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota
Proposal: 2019.004G.zip

Etymology: from the name of a higher-rank taxon for tailed phages proposed by Lwoff and Tournier in 1966 (“Urovirales”; from the Greek οὐρά (ourá/uros)), meaning tail; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Caudoviricetes Rank: class
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes
Proposal: 2019.004G.zip

Etymology: from the Latin caudo, meaning tail; referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Adrikavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Adrikavirales
Proposal: 2024.002A.Adrikaivirales_neworder_2newfam.zip

Etymology: from Adrika, the cursed apsara (celestial nymph), who took form of a fish in ancient Indian mythology, referring to the sample source; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Satyavativiridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Adrikavirales | Satyavativiridae
Proposal: 2024.002A.Adrikaivirales_neworder_2newfam.zip
Report Chapter: Satyavativiridae

Etymology: from Satyavati, the child of Adrika, who later became an ancient Indian Queen in ancient Indian mythology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Autographivirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Autographivirales
Proposal: 2024.045B.Autographivirales.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós), meaning self, and the Greek γρᾰ́φειν (gráphein) meaning to carve, referring to "self-writing” or “self-transcribing” bacterial viruses in the order that encode a large single subunit RNA polymerase; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Autonotataviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Autographivirales | Autonotataviridae
Proposal: 2024.045B.Autographivirales.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós), meaning self, and from the neuter plural of the Latin notare, meaning to inscribe; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Autoscriptoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Autographivirales | Autoscriptoviridae
Proposal: 2024.045B.Autographivirales.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós), meaning self, and from the neuter plural of the Latin scripto meaning to write; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Autosignataviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Autographivirales | Autosignataviridae
Proposal: 2024.045B.Autographivirales.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós), meaning self, and from the neuter plural of the Latin signare, meaning to sign; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Autotranscriptaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Autographivirales | Autotranscriptaviridae
Proposal: 2024.045B.Autographivirales.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós), meaning self, and from the neuter plural of the Latin transcribere meaning to copy; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Crassvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Crassvirales
Proposal: 2021.022B.R.Crassvirales.zip

Etymology: from the prototypical uncultured virus, crAssphage, a name derived from the software tool crAss for cross-assembly analysis; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Crevaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Crassvirales | Crevaviridae
Proposal: 2021.022B.R.Crassvirales.zip

Etymology: from the Bosnian creva, meaning "intestine", signifying that members of the family are highly abundant in mammalian gut, particularly, in humans; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Darmviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Crassvirales | Darmviridae
Proposal: 2025.013B.Crassvirales_reorganisation.zip

Etymology: From the Dutch darm, meaning "intestines", referring to the abundance of member viruses in the gut microbiome; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Intestiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Crassvirales | Intestiviridae
Proposal: 2021.022B.R.Crassvirales.zip

Etymology: from the Latin intestīnus meaning "internal", signifying that members of the family are highly abundant in the mammalian gut, particularly, in humans; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Steigviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Crassvirales | Steigviridae
Proposal: 2021.022B.R.Crassvirales.zip

Etymology: from the Irish stéig, meaning "intestine", signifying that members of the family are highly abundant in mammalian gut, particularly, in humans; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Suoliviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Crassvirales | Suoliviridae
Proposal: 2021.022B.R.Crassvirales.zip

Etymology: from the Finnish suolet, meaning "intestine", signifying that members of the family are highly abundant in mammalian gut, particularly, in humans; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Grandevirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Grandevirales
Proposal: 2024.014B.Grandevirales_1no_2nf_3nsf_4ng_8ns.zip

Etymology: from the Latin grande, meaning large or great, referring to the large genome size (< 200 kb) of viruses in the order; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Epsomviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Grandevirales | Epsomviridae
Proposal: 2024.014B.Grandevirales_1no_2nf_3nsf_4ng_8ns.zip

Etymology: from Epsom, UK, a town famous for horse racing, referring to the equine source of the first member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Lakviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Grandevirales | Lakviridae
Proposal: 2024.014B.Grandevirales_1no_2nf_3nsf_4ng_8ns.zip

Etymology: from Laksam Upazila, Bangladesh, the location where viruses were sampled from human gut microbiome; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Juravirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Juravirales
Proposal: 2022.003A.Caudoviricetes_2no_3nf.zip

Etymology: from the Lithuanian jūra, meaning "sea"; referring to the marine archaeal viruses in the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Yangangviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Juravirales | Yangangviridae
Proposal: 2022.003A.Caudoviricetes_2no_3nf.zip

Etymology: from Yangshan, a Chinese island and gang , meaning "harbour" in Chinese, referring to the sampling location of marine archaeal host of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Yanlukaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Juravirales | Yanlukaviridae
Proposal: 2022.003A.Caudoviricetes_2no_3nf.zip

Etymology: from Yangshan, a Chinese island and luka, meaning "harbour" in Croatian, referring to the sampling location of marine archaeal host of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Kirjokansivirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kirjokansivirales
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip

Etymology: from the Finnish kirjomeaning "versatility" or "variety" and from the Finnish kansi meaning "cover", a magical object in Finnish mythology which brought riches and happiness including salt to its holder, referring to the haloarchaeal hosts of viruses in the order; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Graaviviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kirjokansivirales | Graaviviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Graaviviridae

Etymology: from the Finnish graavi, meaning raw cooking of fish with salt, referring to the hyperhalophilic archaeal hosts of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Haloferuviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kirjokansivirales | Haloferuviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Haloferuviridae

Etymology: from Haloferax and Halorubrum. sp., hosts to viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Pyrstoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kirjokansivirales | Pyrstoviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Pyrstoviridae

Etymology: from the Finnish pyrstö, meaning "fish tail", referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Shortaselviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kirjokansivirales | Shortaselviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Shortaselviridae

Etymology: from short tail, referring to the virion morhology of viruses in the family, and the French sel meaning "salt", referring to the haloarchaeal host; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Magrovirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Magrovirales
Proposal: 2022.003A.Caudoviricetes_2no_3nf.zip

Etymology: from Marine Group II Euryarchaeota, the historical name of Poseidoniales archaea; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Aoguangviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Magrovirales | Aoguangviridae
Proposal: 2022.003A.Caudoviricetes_2no_3nf.zip
Report Chapter: Aoguangviridae

Etymology: from Aoguang, the Dragon King of the East China Sea in ancient Chinese myths and legends; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Apasviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Magrovirales | Apasviridae
Proposal: 2024.001A.Apasiiviridae_newfam.zip
Report Chapter: Apasviridae

Etymology: from Apas, the ancient water goddesses in Indian mythology, referring to the sample source; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Krittikaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Magrovirales | Krittikaviridae
Proposal: 2024.002A.Adrikaivirales_neworder_2newfam.zip
Report Chapter: Krittikaviridae

Etymology: from Krittika, a legendary princess bathing in an Indian river (Ganga) according to ancient Indian mythology, referring to the sample source; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Metacrassvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Metacrassvirales
Proposal: 2025.013B.Crassvirales_reorganisation.zip

Etymology: from the Greek μετά (meta), meaning “beyond” or “other” and Crassvirales, a taxon with highly similar virus members; the suffix ‑virales for order taxa

Taxon: Tripviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Metacrassvirales | Tripviridae
Proposal: 2025.013B.Crassvirales_reorganisation.zip

Etymology: From the French tripes meaning "intestines", referring to the abundance of member viruses in the gut microbiome; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa+D58

Taxon: Methanobavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Methanobavirales
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip

Etymology: from Methanobacteriales, referring to the host of the viruses; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Anaerodiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Methanobavirales | Anaerodiviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Anaerodiviridae

Etymology: from anaerobic digester, referring to the source of isolation for a virus in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Armatusviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Methanobavirales | Armatusviridae
Proposal: 2023.002A.Caudoviricetes_5nf_v2.zip

Etymology: from the Latin armatus meaning “armed”, referring to exolysins with multiple pseudomurein degradation domains encoded in the genomes of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Kairosviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Methanobavirales | Kairosviridae
Proposal: 2023.002A.Caudoviricetes_5nf_v2.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek καιρός (kairos) meaning the “time of opportunity”, referring to the finding of proviruses in the genomes of Methanobrevibacter that are related to viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Leisingerviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Methanobavirales | Leisingerviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Leisingerviridae

Etymology: to honour the Swiss microbiologist Thomas Leisinger, who isolated the virus psiM2; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Pigerviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Methanobavirales | Pigerviridae
Proposal: 2023.002A.Caudoviricetes_5nf_v2.zip

Etymology: from the Latin piger, meaning “lazy”, referring to the presence of viruses of the family mostly as integrated elements; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Usuviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Methanobavirales | Usuviridae
Proposal: 2024.006A.Usuviridae_newfam.zip

Etymology: from the Indonesian usus, meaning intestine, referring to the sample source; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Nakonvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Nakonvirales
Proposal: 2022.001A.Nakonvirales_Maximonvirales_Coyopavirales_3no.zip

Etymology: from Nakon, the most powerful god of war in Mayan mythology; the suffix -virales for order taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Ahpuchviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Nakonvirales | Ahpuchviridae
Proposal: 2022.001A.Nakonvirales_Maximonvirales_Coyopavirales_3no.zip
Report Chapter: Ahpuchviridae

Etymology: from Ah Puch, the god of death in the Mayan mythology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Ekchuahviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Nakonvirales | Ekchuahviridae
Proposal: 2022.001A.Nakonvirales_Maximonvirales_Coyopavirales_3no.zip

Etymology: from Ek Chuah, the patron god of warriors and merchants in the Mayan mythology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Pantevenvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pantevenvirales
Proposal: 2024.026B.Pantevenvirales_1no_3mf.zip

Etymology: from the Greek pan, meaning all-inclusive, and T-even, the description that was used for bacteriophages related to the Escherichia coli phages T2, T4 and T6; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Ackermannviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pantevenvirales | Ackermannviridae
Proposal: 2017.001B.A.v3.Ackermannviridae.zip

Etymology: to honour Hans-Wolfgang Ackermann, a German microbiologist, past life member of ICTV, a pioneer of electron microscopy and the taxonomy of prokcaryotic viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Kyanoviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pantevenvirales | Kyanoviridae
Proposal: 2021.082B.R.Tevens_new_families.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek κυάνεος (kuáneos), meaning “dark blue”, referring to the cyanobacterial hosts to viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Straboviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pantevenvirales | Straboviridae
Proposal: 2021.082B.R.Tevens_new_families.zip

Etymology: from the name of the Greek philosopher Strabo; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Paracrassvirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Paracrassvirales
Proposal: 2025.013B.Crassvirales_reorganisation.zip

Etymology: from the Ancient Greek παρά (para), meaning "near" or "beside", and Crassvirales, a taxon with highly similar virus members; the suffix ‑virales for order taxa

Taxon: Tinaiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Paracrassvirales | Tinaiviridae
Proposal: 2025.013B.Crassvirales_reorganisation.zip

Etymology: From the Central Dusun tinai, meaning "intestines", referring to the abundance of member viruses in the gut microbiome; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Thumleimavirales Rank: order
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Thumleimavirales
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip

Etymology: from Thumleima, the goddess and the female personification of salt, and natural salt brines in Meitei mythology, referring to the haloarchaeal hosts of viruses in the order; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Druskaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Thumleimavirales | Druskaviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Druskaviridae

Etymology: from the Lithuanian druska, meaning "salt", referring to the hyperhalophilic archaea of the genus Haloarcula, hosts to viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Hafunaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Thumleimavirales | Hafunaviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Hafunaviridae

Etymology: from Halophage HF1 virus (with "una" for "1"), the first isolated representative virus of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Halomagnusviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Thumleimavirales | Halomagnusviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Halomagnusviridae

Etymology: from the Greek prefix halo, meaning "salt", and the Latin magnus meaning "large", referring to the fact that Halogranum tailed virus 1 has by far the largest genome among known haloarchaeal viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Soleiviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Thumleimavirales | Soleiviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Soleiviridae

Etymology: from solar saltern, an artifical shallow pond for the production of salt, and the location Eilat, Israel, where Haloarcula tailed virus 2, a member of the family, was isolated; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Aggregaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Aggregaviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip

Etymology: from Olleya sp, a host of Olleya phage Harreka 1, which is found mainly in aggregates; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Aliceevansviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Aliceevansviridae
Proposal: 2022.001B.Aliceevansviridae.zip

Etymology: to honour Alice Catherine Evans, an American microbiologist who investigated the bacteriology of milk and cheese; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Alisviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Alisviridae
Proposal: 2024.001B.Alisviridae_Ludisviridae_Nixviridae_3nf_7ng_24ns.zip

Etymology: from the Latin alis, meaning wings, a homage to Buffalo, N.Y. (the infamous Buffalo chicken wing), and also referring to the ability of transposable phages to use their “wings” to “fly” around the bacterial genome and insert randomly; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Altumviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Altumviridae
Proposal: 2025.001A.Crust_viruses_6nf.zip

Etymology: from the Latin altum, meaning "deep", referring to the deep sea environment in which these viruses were found; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Anamaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Anamaviridae
Proposal: 2025.090B.Anamaviridae_1nf.zip

Etymology: from Anamã (Anama), referring to a tradition of “family” in the Tupi-guarani language, Brazil's most widely spoken indigenous language; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Andersonviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Andersonviridae
Proposal: 2024.002B.Andersonviridae_1nf_2ng_98ns.zip

Etymology: to honour Thomas Foxen Anderson, an American biophysical chemist and geneticist ; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Arenbergviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Arenbergviridae
Proposal: 2022.006B.Arenbergviridae_nf.zip

Etymology: from the address where the genome of phage PA5oct was characterized (Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, Leuven, Belgium) in the Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, KU Leuven; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Assalcaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Assalcaviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip

Etymology: from Assale, a salt lake in the Danakil depression (Ethiopia) the location of sampling and from the Latin caudo, meaning tail, referring to the morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Assiduviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Assiduviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip

Etymology: from the Latin assiduus, meaning "constant" or "regular", referring to the regular isolation of members of the family from enrichments and seawater; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Berryhillviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Berryhillviridae
Proposal: 2024.003B.Berryhillviridae_1nf_7ng_3mg_10ns.zip

Etymology: to honour David Berryhill, an American microbiologist and one of the first people to isolate an Arthrobacter phage; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Blefusviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Blefusviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip

Etymology: after the fictional island Blefuscu from Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Buchnerviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Buchnerviridae
Proposal: 2025.006B.Buchnerviridae_1nf_6ng_1mg_1mrs_13ns.zip

Etymology: to honor Eduard Buchner, a German chemist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1907; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Casidaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Casidaviridae
Proposal: 2024.005B.Casidaviridae_1nf_9ng_23ns.zip

Etymology: to honour Lester E. Casida Jr., an American industrial microbiologist; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Casjensviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Casjensviridae
Proposal: 2021.015B.R.Casjensviridae.zip

Etymology: to honour Sherwood R Casjens, an American virologist, for his seminal contributions to the study of phage biology and evolution; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Chaseviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Chaseviridae
Proposal: 2019.047B.zip
Report Chapter: Chaseviridae

Etymology: to honour Martha Cowles Chase, an American geneticist who helped confirm that DNA rather than protein is the genetic material of life; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Chimalliviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Chimalliviridae
Proposal: 2023.015B.Chimalliviridae_nf.zip

Etymology: from chimallin (“chīmalli”, an Aztec shield), which is the major phage nuclear shell protein, referring to the unique phage replication mechanism of members of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Clermontviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Clermontviridae
Proposal: 2023.002A.Caudoviricetes_5nf_v2.zip

Etymology: from the French city of Clermont-Ferrand where Methanomassiliicoccales archaea, host for viruses in the family, were co-discovered; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Colingsworthviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Colingsworthviridae
Proposal: 2024.008B.Colingsworthviridae_1nf_4ng_3mg_8ns.zip

Etymology: to honour Donald R. Colingsworth, an American industrial microbiologist and the first person to isolate a Streptomyces phage; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Connertonviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Connertonviridae
Proposal: 2024.009B.Connertonviridae_1nf_2mg_12ns.zip

Etymology: to honour Ian F. Connerton, a British microbiologist/food scientist who studied Campylobacter phage; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Dallocaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Dallocaviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip

Etymology: from Dallol in the Danakil depression (Ethiopia), the location of sampling and from the Latin caudo, meaning tail, referring to the morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Danacaviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Danacaviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip

Etymology: from the Danakil depression (Ethiopia) of geothermally influenced salt lakes, the location of sampling and from the Latin caudo, meaning tail, referring to the morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Demerecviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Demerecviridae
Proposal: 2019.099B.zip

Etymology: to honour Milislav Demerec, a Croatian-American geneticist who pioneered work on bacteriophage, and collaborated in the first isolation of E.coli phage T5; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Drexlerviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Drexlerviridae
Proposal: 2019.100B.zip

Etymology: to honour Henry Drexler, an American microbiologist, for his pioneering research on Escherichia phage T1; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Duneviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Duneviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip

Etymology: from the island Dune, close to Helgoland, where members of the famiy were discovered in aquatic samples; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Ehrlichviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Ehrlichviridae
Proposal: 2024.012B.Ehrlichviridae_1nf_6ng_1mg_9ns.zip

Etymology: to honour Melanie Ehrlich, an American molecular biologist and Kenneth Craig Ehrlich, an American organic chemist/biochemist, who both pioneered work on Bacillus phage; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Felixviridae Rank: family
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Felixviridae
Proposal: 2024.044B.Felixviridae_1nf_1nsf_2ng_1mg_2ns.zip

Etymology: from the Latin felix, meaning luck, referring the chance discovery of the Roth phages C and D; the suffix -viridae for family taxa