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].
Filter the list of name origins using the selection options below:
Duplodnaviria
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Fervensviridae
Proposal: 2022.004A.Caudoviricetes_3nf.zip
Etymology: from the Latin fervens, meaning "hot", referring to the high temperature of the hydrothermal vent from which the provirus-carrying host was isolated; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Forsetiviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip
Etymology: from the god Forseti, associated in Nordic mythology to the island Helgoland, where members of the famiy were discovered in aquatic samples; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Fredfastierviridae
Proposal: 2022.033B.Fredfastierviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: to honour Frederick Noel Fastier, a pharmacologist from New Zealand, one of the first scientists to isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Fuxiviridae
Proposal: 2024.005A.Bathyarchaeia_4newfam.zip
Etymology: from Fuxi, a legendary figure in Chinese mythology known for his diverse talents and abilities; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Grimontviridae
Proposal: 2022.035B.Grimontviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: to honour the French microbiologist Francine Grimont for her extensive study of phages, particularly the C3 morphotype viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Guelinviridae
Proposal: 2020.066B.R.Guelinviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour Antonina Guelin who, at the Institut Pasteur, isolated some of the first Clostridium phages; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Gulliviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip
Etymology: from Gulliver, the protagonist of Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels, referring to the large size of the virus genome in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Helgolandviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip
Etymology: from the island Helgoland, where members of the famiy were discovered in aquatic samples; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Herelleviridae
Proposal: 2018.118B.A.v4.Herelleviridae.zip
Report Chapter: Herelleviridae
Etymology: to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of bacteriophages by the French microbiologist Félix d’Hérelle; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Hirszfeldviridae
Proposal: 2025.054B.Hirszfeldviridae_1nf_21ng_1mg_5mrs_46ns.zip
Etymology: to honor Ludwik Hirszfeld, a Polish physician, bacteriologist and immunologist, the founder of the Polish School of Immunology and the scientific discipline of seroanthropology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Hodgkinviridae
Proposal: 2024.016B.Hodgkinviridae_1nf_2ng_4mg_5ns.zip
Etymology: to honour Jonathan Alan Hodgkin, a British biochemist whose group characterised the first bacteriophage to be reported for the coryneform genus Microbacterium; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Infernusviridae
Proposal: 2025.001A.Crust_viruses_6nf.zip
Etymology: from the Latin infernus, meaning "bottom" or "deep", referring to the location of the basaltic crust at the bottom of the ocean; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Jasonviridae
Proposal: 2025.001A.Crust_viruses_6nf.zip
Etymology: referring to the remotely-operated vehicle Jason responsible for deploying and collecting sampling equipment for research in the deep biosphere; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Jeanschmidtviridae
Proposal: 2024.017B.Jeanschmidtviridae_1nf_3ng_4mg_6ns.zip
Etymology: to honour Jean Marie Schmidt, an American microbiologist and cancer researcher who was one of the first scientists to study Caulobacter; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kleczkowskaviridae
Proposal: 2022.042B.Kleczkowskaviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: to honour Janina Kleczkowska of the Rothampstead Experimental Station, UK, for pioneering the study of Rhizobium phages; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Konodaiviridae
Proposal: 2023.042B.Konodaiviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: from the Japanese city of Konodai, the location of one of the research institutes where members of the family were discovered; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kruegerviridae
Proposal: 2024.019B.Kruegerviridae_1nf_1ng_1mg_4ns.zip
Etymology: to honour Albert Paul Krueger, an American microbiologist; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Kunpengviridae
Proposal: 2024.005A.Bathyarchaeia_4newfam.zip
Etymology: from Kunpeng, a mythical creature in Chinese mythology known for its transformative abilities; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Lilliviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip
Etymology: after the fictional island Lilliput from Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa; connection unclear
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Lindbergviridae
Proposal: 2024.020B.Lindbergviridae_1nf_3ng_7mg_21ns.zip
Etymology: to honour Alf Erik Anton Lindberg, a Swedish physician scientist; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Ludisviridae
Proposal: 2024.001B.Alisviridae_Ludisviridae_Nixviridae_3nf_7ng_24ns.zip
Etymology: from the Latin ludis, meaning sport, referring to the vibrant sports scene in Buffalo, NY. ; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Luriaviridae
Proposal: 2025.086B.Luriaviridae_1nf_3ng_1mg_12ns.zip
Etymology: to honor the Italian microbiologist Salvador Edward Luria, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1969 for his role in discoveries concerning the replication mechanism and the genetic structure of viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Lutetiaviridae
Proposal: 2023.002A.Caudoviricetes_5nf_v2.zip
Etymology: from Lutetia, an historical name for the French city of Paris; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa. Connection unclear
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Lutzviridae
Proposal: 2025.040B.Lutzviridae_1nf_1ng_1ns.zip
Etymology: to honor of Bertha Lutz, a Brazilian zoologist, politician and diplomat; the suffix -viridae for family taxa.
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Madisaviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Madisaviridae
Etymology: from Margherita di Savoia in Italy, where Haloarcula hispanica tailed virus 1, a member of the family, was first isolated; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Madridviridae
Proposal: 2023.046B.Madridviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: from the Spanish city of Madrid, where Streptococcus phage Cp1 and Streptococcus phage Cp7, members of the family, were first isolated; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Mariniviridae
Proposal: 2025.042B.Mariniviridae_1nf.zip
Etymology: from the Latin marinus, meaning “sea”,and the vowel i, referring to the habitat of the member virus; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Mazoviaviridae
Proposal: 2024.033B.Mazoviaviridae_1nf_1ng_1ns.zip
Etymology: from Mazovia, a historic region of Poland; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection obscure
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Mesyanzhinovviridae
Proposal: 2021.051B.R.Mesyanzhinovviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour the Russian scientist Vadim V. Mesyanzhinov, for his research on the mechanisms of protein folding and assembly, and structural genomics; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Molycolviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip
Etymology: from the names of two species in the genus Mollyvirus: Mollyvirus Molly and Mollyvirus Colly; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Mtkvariviridae
Proposal: 2024.024B.Mktvariviridae_1nf_1msf_10ns.zip
Etymology: from the Georgian მტკვარი, Mt’k’vari, for the river flowing through Tbilisi from which phage phiEco32 was isolated; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Naomviridae
Proposal: 2021.056B.R.Naomiviridae.zip
Etymology: from the biblical character Naomi and Hebrew naomi, meaning “good” to represent the good that bacteriophage can do; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Nixviridae
Proposal: 2024.001B.Alisviridae_Ludisviridae_Nixviridae_3nf_7ng_24ns.zip
Etymology: from the Latin nix, meaning snow, referring to the abundance of snow during the winter months in Buffalo, NY. ; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Orlajensenviridae
Proposal: 2021.060B.R.Orlajensenviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour the Danish chemist and dairy bacteriologist Sigurd Orla-Jensen who was largely responsible for the isolation and taxonomy of the bacteria in the genus Microbacterium; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pachyviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip
Etymology: from the Ancient Greek παχύς (pakhús), meaning "thick" and referring to the morphology of members of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Peduoviridae
Proposal: 2021.063B.R.Peduoviridae.zip
Etymology: from Escherichia phage P2 (phonetically "Pe" and "duo" representing "2"), a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pervagoviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip
Etymology: from the Latin pervagus, meaning "widely roaming", referring to members of the species Callevirus phi38una in the genus Callevirus, which are found in various ocean regions; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pituviridae
Proposal: 2025.061B.Pituviridae_1nf_7ng_8ns.zip
Etymology: from the VIP Project Team 2 (P2), using the phonetic alphabet, referring to the isolation and characterization of Klebsiella phage vB_VIPKPNMC05; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pootjesviridae
Proposal: 2022.065B.Pootjesviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: to honour of American microbiologist Christine Pootjes, one of the first scientist to study Agrobacterium phages; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Pungoviridae
Proposal: 2022.004A.Caudoviricetes_3nf.zip
Etymology: from the Latin pungo, meaning "prick" or "puncture", referring to the ability of the viruses in the family to lyse the Methanoculleus host; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Quasboviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip
Etymology: from the Afar quasbo, meaning "salt", referring to environment in which these viruses were found; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Rountreeviridae
Proposal: 2020.140B.R.Rountreeviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour Phyllis Margaret Rountree, an Australian bacteriologist and expert on Staphylococcus; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Saffermanviridae
Proposal: 2023.057B.Saffermanviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: to honour Robert S. Safferman, an American microbiologist who together with Mary-Ellen Morris first isolated and characterized Leptolyngbya phage LPP-1, a member of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Saladoviridae
Proposal: 2025.002A.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes_8nf.zip
Etymology: from the Spanish salado, meaning "salty", referring to the environment in which these viruses were found; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Salasmaviridae
Proposal: 2020.143B.R.Salasmaviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour Margarita Salas Falgueras, a Spanish scientist, medical researcher, and author in the fields of biochemistry and molecular genetics; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Saparoviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Saparoviridae
Etymology: from the Finnish saparo, meaning "pig tail", referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Sarkviridae
Proposal: 2024.031B.Sarkviridae_1nf_1msf_2mg.zip
Etymology: from Sark, one of the Channel Islands, continuing the theme used to name Guernseyvirinae and Jerseyvirus ; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Schitoviridae
Proposal: 2020.146B.R.Schitoviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour the Italian microbiologist Gian Carlo Schito, who isolated Escherichia phage N4; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Seadebiviridae
Proposal: 2025.001A.Crust_viruses_6nf.zip
Etymology: from the phonetic translation of C-DEBI (Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations), referring to an organization that helped drive research in the deep biosphere; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Speroviridae
Proposal: 2022.004A.Caudoviricetes_3nf.zip
Etymology: from the Latin spero, meaning "hope", green (the colour of hope) referring to the green F420 autofluorescence of methanogenic archaea that host Methanobacterium virus C158, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Stackebrandtviridae
Proposal: 2024.034B.Stackebrandtviridae_1nf_2nsf_8mg_8ns.zip
Etymology: to honour Erko Stackebrandt, a German microbiologist; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Stanwilliamsviridae
Proposal: 2022.085B.Stanwilliamsviridae_nf_2nsf_4ng_6nsp.zip
Etymology: to honour the British microbiologist Stanley Thomas Williams, a pioneer in the development of techniques for scanning electron microscopy of microbes; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Suolaviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Suolaviridae
Etymology: from the Finnish suola meaning "salt", referring to the haloarchaeal host of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Tenebraviridae
Proposal: 2025.001A.Crust_viruses_6nf.zip
Etymology: from the Latin tenebrae, meaning "darkness", referring to the deep dark ocean where CORKs (Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kits) are located ; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Toyamaviridae
Proposal: 2023.069B.Toyamaviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: from the Japanese city of Toyoma, the location of one of the research institutes where members of the family were discovered; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Trautnerviridae
Proposal: 2024.030B.Trautnerviridae_1nf_1nsf_3ng_6ns.zip
Etymology: to honour Thomas A Trautner, a German molecular biologist, who studied SPP1 for several decades; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Umezonoviridae
Proposal: 2023.072B.Umezonoviridae_nf.zip
Etymology: from the Japanese area of Umezono, the location of one of the research institutes where members of the family were discovered; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Vandenendeviridae
Proposal: 2024.037B.Vandenendeviridae_1nf_2msf_8ng_1mg_11ns.zip
Etymology: to honour Marinus van den Ende, a South African medical scientist and virologist; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Verdandiviridae
Proposal: 2022.002A.Verdandiviridae_nf_Atrospovirales_no.zip
Etymology: from Verdandi, 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
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Vertoviridae
Proposal: 2021.001A.R.Archaeal_Caudoviricetes.zip
Report Chapter: Vertoviridae
Etymology: from the Latin verto, meaning "invert", referring to the invertible tail fiber locus characterized in genomes of viruses of this family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Vilmaviridae
Proposal: 2021.089B.R.Vilmaviridae.zip
Etymology: from the designations V (phoneticlaly "Vi"), L and M, referring to the clusters on the Actinobacteriophage Database that include viruses of the family and addition of the vowel a; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Winoviridae
Proposal: 2021.029B.R.Flavophages_9_families.zip
Etymology: from Winogradskyella, the genus of the host to Winogradshyella phage Peternella, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Zierdtviridae
Proposal: 2021.094B.R.Zierdtviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour the American microbiologist Charles Henry Zierdt, who isolated and studied some of the first Corynebacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes phages; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Zimmerviridae
Proposal: 2025.083B.Zimmerviridae_1nf_3nsf_4ng_9ns.zip
Etymology: to honour the American microbiologist Esther Zimmer Lederberg, the discoverer of lambda phage; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Duplodnaviria | Heunggongvirae | Uroviricota | Caudoviricetes | Zobellviridae
Proposal: 2020.187B.R.Zobellviridae.zip
Etymology: to honour the American microbiologist Claude Ephraim Zobell, the first person to isolate marine phage, and a pioneer of marine microbiology; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Efunaviria
Lineage: Efunaviria
Proposal: 2025.002G.Monodnaviria_reorg_4nr.zip
Etymology: from the sixth Latin letter “ef” and the Latin una, meaning “one”, referring to Enterobacteria phage f1, which encodes the hallmark morphogenic module of this realm; the suffix ‑viria for realm taxa
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: to honour Timothy Loeb, who described “phage f1” in 1960; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae | Hofneiviricota
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: to honour Peter H. Hofschneider, who described “phage M13” in 1963; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae | Hofneiviricota | Faserviricetes
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from the German Faser, meaning "fiber", a reference to the family name Inoviridae, which is derived from the Ancient Greek ἰνός (inos), meaning "a fiber", referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the class; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae | Hofneiviricota | Faserviricetes | Tubulavirales
Proposal: 2019.061B.zip
Etymology: from tubular, referring to the virion morphology of some viruses in this taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae | Hofneiviricota | Faserviricetes | Tubulavirales | Inoviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1978.pdf
Report Chapter: Inoviridae
PubMed ID: 6130119
Etymology: from the Ancient Greek ἰνός (inos), meaning a "fiber", referring to the virion morhology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae | Hofneiviricota | Faserviricetes | Tubulavirales | Paulinoviridae
Proposal: 2020.114B.R.Paulinoviridae.zip
Report Chapter: Paulinoviridae
Etymology: from the Latin paulus, meaning “small”, referring to the shorter genomes and fewer encoded proteins in members of the family compared to viruses of other families such as Inoviridae within the order Tubulavirales; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae | Hofneiviricota | Faserviricetes | Tubulavirales | Plectroviridae
Proposal: 2019.061B.zip
Report Chapter: Plectroviridae
Etymology: from the Latin plectrum, meaning "small stick", referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Floreoviria
Lineage: Floreoviria
Proposal: 2025.002G.Monodnaviria_reorg_4nr.zip
Etymology: from the Latin floreo, meaning "to blossom", referring to the bloom of diversity in the virus realm in terms of genome structures and topologies, mechanisms of replication and virion structures; the suffix ‑viria for realm taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from the Japanese Empress Shōtoku (称徳天皇), aka Kōken (孝謙天皇), who wrote a poem about a plant disease caused by a geminivirus—considered the first written record of a plant virus disease; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Commensaviricota
Proposal: 2024.012D.Shotokuvirae_newphylum.zip
Etymology: referring to the commensal lifestyle of anelloviruses; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Commensaviricota | Cardeaviricetes
Proposal: 2024.012D.Shotokuvirae_newphylum.zip
Etymology: from Cardea, the Roman goddess of health; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Commensaviricota | Cardeaviricetes | Sanitavirales
Proposal: 2024.012D.Shotokuvirae_newphylum.zip
Etymology: from the Latin sanitas meaning health, referring to anelloviruses being part of the healthy human virome; the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Commensaviricota | Cardeaviricetes | Sanitavirales | Anelloviridae
Proposal: 2007.075a-xxV.v4.Anelloviridae.zip
Report Chapter: Anelloviridae
Etymology: from the Latin anello, meaning "ring", referring to the circular nature of the DNA genome of viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: to honour Yvonne Cossart, who co-discovered parvovirus B19; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Mouviricetes
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from the French mou, meaning "flaccid", referring to the disease associated with Bombyx mori bidensovirus, a member of the class; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Mouviricetes | Polivirales
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from polinton-like virus. Polintons are large DNA transposons which contain genes with homology to viral proteins; the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Mouviricetes | Polivirales | Bidnaviridae
Proposal: 2010.021a-gV.A.v1.Bidnaviridae.pdf
Report Chapter: Bidnaviridae
Etymology: from the Latin bi meaning "two" and DNA for deoxyribonucleic acid, referring to the segmented ssDNA genomes of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Papovaviricetes
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from papova, referring to the defunct Papovaviridae, which once included papillomavirus, mouse polyoma virus, and simian vacuolating virus ; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Papovaviricetes | Sepolyvirales
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from SE [Stewart & Eddy] polyoma, the original designation for the first discovered polyomavirus (now murine polyomavirus); the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Papovaviricetes | Sepolyvirales | Polyomaviridae
Proposal: ICTV 1st Report.pdf
Report Chapter: Polyomaviridae
PubMed ID: 26923930
Etymology: from the English prefix poly- (Ancient Greek πολύς (polús) meaning “many”) and the Greek suffix -oma, used to form nouns denoting “tumours”, referring to the association of some viruses in the family with cancers; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Papovaviricetes | Zurhausenvirales
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: to honour Harald zur Hausen, who discovered the connection between papillomaviruses and cervical cancer; the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Papovaviricetes | Zurhausenvirales | Papillomaviridae
Proposal: ICTV 1st Report.pdf
Report Chapter: Papillomaviridae
PubMed ID: 36298863
Etymology: from the Latin papilla, meaning “nipple" or "pustule”, and the Greek suffix -oma, used to form nouns denoting “tumours”, referring to the association of some viruses in the family with cancers; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Quintoviricetes
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from the Galician quinto, meaning "fifth", referencing Fifth disease, caused by parvovirus B19, a member of the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Quintoviricetes | Piccovirales
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip
Etymology: from the Italian piccolo, meaning "small" or "sharp", referring to the small size of parvovirus genomes; the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota | Quintoviricetes | Piccovirales | Parvoviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1975.pdf
Report Chapter: Parvoviridae
PubMed ID: 24212889
Etymology: from the Latin parvus, meaning "small", referring to the small virion size of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota
Proposal: 2019.012D.zip
Etymology: from CRESS DNA; referring to circular Rep-encoding ssDNA viruses; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa.
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes
Proposal: 2019.012D.zip
Etymology: from arginine and finger, referring to a conserved domain in the helicase of viruses in the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes | Baphyvirales
Proposal: 2019.012D.zip
Etymology: from bacillariophytes (diatoms), hosts of viruses in this taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes | Baphyvirales | Bacilladnaviridae
Proposal: 2017.001F.A.v1.Bacilladnaviridae.zip
Etymology: from Bacillariophytes, the name of the host of viruses in the genus Bacilladnavirus and DNA for deoxyribonucleic acid,; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes | Cirlivirales
Proposal: 2019.012D.zip
Etymology: from circoviruses and circo-like viruses, referring to members of the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes | Cirlivirales | Circoviridae
Proposal: Ratification_1993.pdf
Report Chapter: Circoviridae
PubMed ID: 8494519
Etymology: from the Latin circulos meaning "small ring", referring to the circular ssDNA genomes of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes | Cirlivirales | Endolinaviridae
Proposal: 2023.019D.Cirlivirales_1nf_4ng_10nsp.zip
Etymology: from the name Endolimax nana, the amoeba host for members of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes | Cirlivirales | Vilyaviridae
Proposal: 2021.010F.R.Cressdna_2neword_3newfam_21newgen.zip
Etymology: from Vilya the ring of air, one of three rings of power from Middle-earth in the fictional novels of JR Tolkein; the suffix -viridae for family taxa; connection unclear
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cressdnaviricota | Arfiviricetes | Cremevirales
Proposal: 2019.012D.zip
Etymology: from circular Rep-encoding ssDNA viruses; and metagenomics; the suffix -virales for order taxa
