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:

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

Duplodnaviria

Taxon: Fervensviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Forsetiviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Fredfastierviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Fuxiviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Grimontviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Guelinviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Gulliviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Helgolandviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Herelleviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Hirszfeldviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Hodgkinviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Infernusviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Jasonviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Jeanschmidtviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Kleczkowskaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Konodaiviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Kruegerviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Kunpengviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Lilliviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Lindbergviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Ludisviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Luriaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Lutetiaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Lutzviridae Rank: family
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.

Taxon: Madisaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Madridviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Mariniviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Mazoviaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Mesyanzhinovviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Molycolviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Mtkvariviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Naomviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Nixviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Orlajensenviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Pachyviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Peduoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Pervagoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Pituviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Pootjesviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Pungoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Quasboviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Rountreeviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Saffermanviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Saladoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Salasmaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Saparoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Sarkviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Schitoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Seadebiviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Speroviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Stackebrandtviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Stanwilliamsviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Suolaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Tenebraviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Toyamaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Trautnerviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Umezonoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Vandenendeviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Verdandiviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Vertoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Vilmaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Winoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Zierdtviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Zimmerviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Zobellviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Efunaviria Rank: realm
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

Taxon: Loebvirae Rank: kingdom
Lineage: Efunaviria | Loebvirae
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip

Etymology: to honour Timothy Loeb, who described “phage f1” in 1960; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Hofneiviricota Rank: phylum
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

Taxon: Faserviricetes Rank: class
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

Taxon: Tubulavirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Inoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Paulinoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Plectroviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Floreoviria Rank: realm
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

Taxon: Shotokuvirae Rank: kingdom
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

Taxon: Commensaviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Commensaviricota
Proposal: 2024.012D.Shotokuvirae_newphylum.zip

Etymology: referring to the commensal lifestyle of anelloviruses; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Cardeaviricetes Rank: class
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

Taxon: Sanitavirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Anelloviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Cossaviricota Rank: phylum
Lineage: Floreoviria | Shotokuvirae | Cossaviricota
Proposal: 2019.005G.zip

Etymology: to honour Yvonne Cossart, who co-discovered parvovirus B19; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Mouviricetes Rank: class
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

Taxon: Polivirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Bidnaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Papovaviricetes Rank: class
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

Taxon: Sepolyvirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Polyomaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Zurhausenvirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Papillomaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Quintoviricetes Rank: class
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

Taxon: Piccovirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Parvoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Cressdnaviricota Rank: phylum
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.

Taxon: Arfiviricetes Rank: class
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

Taxon: Baphyvirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Bacilladnaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Cirlivirales Rank: order
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

Taxon: Circoviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Endolinaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Vilyaviridae Rank: family
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

Taxon: Cremevirales Rank: order
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