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