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 info@ictv.global.

Please select the virus realm containing your taxa of interest:

Realm

Realm: Monodnaviria

Taxon: Redondoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2019.011D.A.v1.Redondoviridae    ICTV Report: Redondoviridae  Reference:   

from the Spanish redondo, meaning “round”, referring to the circular nature of the DNA genome of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Ringavirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2023.022D.Ringavirales_1no_1nf_8ng_15nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Latin ringa meaning “ring”, referring to the genome circularity of members of the family; the suffix ‑virales for order taxa

Taxon: Pecoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.022D.Ringavirales_1no_1nf_8ng_15nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Peruvian stool-associated circo-like viruses; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Rivendellvirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2021.010F.R.Cressdna_2neword_3newfam_21newgen    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Rivendell, elven-refuge in a steep and hidden valley to the west of the Misty Mountains, a geograpghical region of Middle-earth in the fictional novels of JR Tolkein: the suffix -virales for order taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Naryaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal:  2021.010F.R.Cressdna_2neword_3newfam_21newgen    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Narya the ring of fire, 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: Rohanvirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2021.010F.R.Cressdna_2neword_3newfam_21newgen    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Rohan, kingdom of the Rohirrim, bounded by the Anduin, the Misty Mountains, and Fangorn Forest, in the fictional novels of JR Tolkein; the suffix -virales for order taxa; connection unclear

Taxon: Adamaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.021D.Rohanvirales_2nf_28ng_34nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ring of Adamant (also called the Ring of Nenya in the fictional novels of JR Tolkein); adamant was a mythical stone with impenetrable hardness; the suffix ‑viridae for family . Connection unclear

Taxon: Kirkoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.021D.Rohanvirales_2nf_28ng_34nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

the name given to a group of viruses by various authors in their publications; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa. Derivation unknown

Taxon: Nenyaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal:  2021.010F.R.Cressdna_2neword_3newfam_21newgen    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Nenya the ring of water, 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: Saturnivirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2023.025D.Saturnivirales_1no_2nf_35ng_120nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Saturn, which is also known as the Ringed Planet, referring to the genome circularity of members of the family; the suffix ‑virales for order taxa.

Taxon: Kanorauviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.025D.Saturnivirales_1no_2nf_35ng_120nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Māori Kanorau meaning "to be diverse", referring to the diversity of viruses of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Mahapunaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.025D.Saturnivirales_1no_2nf_35ng_120nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Māori maha puna meaning "many sources", referring to the diversity of viruses of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Repensiviricetes  Rank: class  Proposal: 2019.012D.A.v1.Cressdnaviricota    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

referring to the Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA viruses in the taxon ; the suffix -vircetes for class taxa

Taxon: Geplafuvirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2019.012D.A.v1.Cressdnaviricota    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from geminivirus, and also plants and fungi, referring to the hosts of viruses in the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Geminiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1993    ICTV Report: Geminiviridae  Reference: PMID: 18256781  

from the Latin geminus meaning "twin", referring to the characteristic twinned (geminate) virion morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Genomoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2015.002a-gF.A.v2.Genomoviridae    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from geminivirus-like and no movement, indicating the lack of a movement protein gene in viruses of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Geplanaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.020D.Geplafuvirales_1nf_18ng_30nsp    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from gemini-like Rep plant and animal associated viruses, referring to the geminivirus Rep sequence (GRS) motif found in members of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Trapavirae  Rank: kingdom  Proposal: 2019.005G.A.v1.Monodnaviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Trapani, Italy, where Halorubrum pleomorphic virus 1, a member of the taxon, was discovered; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Saleviricota  Rank: phylum  Proposal: 2019.005G.A.v1.Monodnaviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Italian sale, meaning "salt", referencing the halophilic hosts of most pleolipovirids; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Huolimaviricetes  Rank: class  Proposal: 2019.005G.A.v1.Monodnaviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Finnish huolimaton, meaning "sloppy", referencing the unmethodical assembly of pleolipovirions; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Haloruvirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2019.005G.A.v1.Monodnaviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Halorubrum pleomorphic virus 1, HRPV-1, a member of the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Pleolipoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2015.042a-oB.A.v3.Pleolipoviridae    ICTV Report: Pleolipoviridae  Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek πλεῖον (pleo), meaning "many", and λῐ́πος (lípos), meaning “animal fat”, referring to the pleomorphic shape and presence of an envelope in virions of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Realm: Riboviria

Taxon: Riboviria  Rank: realm  Proposal: 2017.006G.A.v1.Riboviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from ribo, for ribonucleic acid, referring to the genome of viruses in the realm; the suffix -viria for realm taxa

Taxon: Orthornavirae  Rank: kingdom  Proposal: 2019.006G.A.v1.Riboviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Greek ὀρθός (orthós) meaning "straight" or "true" and RNA for ribonucleic acid; the suffix -virae for kingdom taxa

Taxon: Ambiviricota  Rank: phylum  Proposal: 2023.007F.Ambiviricota_nphy    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from ambivirus(es), referring to the non-overlapping ambisense orientation of open reading frames in the genome of members of the taxon; the suffix ‑viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Suforviricetes  Rank: class  Proposal: 2023.007F.Ambiviricota_nphy    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

to honour Suvi Sutela and Marc Forgia, the co-discoveres of ambiviruses in endomycorrhizal fungi; the suffix ‑viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Crytulvirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2023.007F.Ambiviricota_nphy    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Cryphonectria and Tulasnella, referring to the host genera for fungi in which ambiviruses were first discovered; the suffix ‑virales for order taxa

Taxon: Dumbiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.007F.Ambiviricota_nphy    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Latin duo, meaning two, and ambivirus, referring to one of several families in the parent taxon; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Quambiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.007F.Ambiviricota_nphy    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Latin quattuor, meaning four, and ambivirus, referring to one of several families in the parent taxon; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Trimbiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.007F.Ambiviricota_nphy    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Latin tria, meaning three, and ambivirus, referring to one of several families in the parent taxon; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Unambiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.007F.Ambiviricota_nphy    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Latin unus, meaning "one", and ambivirus, referring to one of several families in the parent taxon; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Duplornaviricota  Rank: phylum  Proposal: 2019.006G.A.v1.Riboviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Italian duplo meaning "double" and RNA for ribonucleic acid, a reference to viruses in this phylum having double-stranded RNA genomes; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

Taxon: Chrymotiviricetes  Rank: class  Proposal: 2019.006G.A.v1.Riboviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Chrysoviridae, Megabirnaviridae, and the now defunct Totiviridae, three virus families originally included in the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

Taxon: Ghabrivirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2019.006G.A.v1.Riboviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

in honour of Said Ghabrial, a pioneer in the study of the viruses in this order; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Alphatotivirineae  Rank: suborder  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek λφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet and the now defunct family Totiviridae (from the Latin toti, meaning "undivided" or "whole" ), one of the founding taxa of the order Ghabrivirales; the suffix ‑virineae for suborder taxa

Taxon: Botybirnaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from, Botrytis porri, the host of Botrytis porri RNA virus 1, and the bi-segmented dsRNA genome of members of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Chrysoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 2002a    ICTV Report: Chrysoviridae  Reference: PMID: 5191625  

from the Greek chrysómeaning “gold”, derived from the specific epithet of Penicillium chrysogenum, the fungal host of Penicillium chrysogenum virus, a member of the virus family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Fusagraviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Fusarium graminearum, host of Fusarium graminearum virus 3, a member of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Megabirnaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2010.002a-gF.A.v1.Megabirnaviridae    ICTV Report: Megabirnaviridae  Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek μέγας (mégas), meaning “great", and Birnaviridae, referring to the size of the bisegmented dsRNA genome of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Monocitiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from monocistronic toti-like viruses; referring to the genome organisation of members of the family and the relationship to totiviruses; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Phlegiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Phlebiopsis gigantea, the host of Phlebiopsis gigantea large virus 1, a member of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Pseudototiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek ψευδής (pseudes), meaning"false" and the addition of the vowel o; referring to the earlier placement of members of the family in the now defunct Totiviridae; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Quadriviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2012.001a-gF.A.v4.Quadriviridae    ICTV Report: Quadriviridae  Reference:   

from the Latin quattuor, meaning "four", referring to the quadripartite nature of the genome of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Spiciviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Spissistilus festinus and Circulifer tenellus, the hosts of the first reported viruses in the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Betatotivirineae  Rank: suborder  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek βτα (bêta), the second letter of the Greek alphabet and the now defunct family Totiviridae, one of the founding taxa of the order Ghabrivirales; the suffix ‑virineae for suborder taxa

Taxon: Artiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from arthropod totivirus, referring to the hosts of members in the family and the relationship to totiviruses; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Giardiaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Giardia lamblia, host of Giardia lamblia virus, a member of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Inseviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from insect toti-like virus, referring to the host of viruses in the family and the relationship to totiviruses; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Lebotiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Leptopilina boulardi toti-like virus, a member of the family; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Megatotiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek μέγας (mégas), meaning “great or large”, referring to the much larger genome size of members of the family when compared to  totiviruses; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa