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: Riboviria

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

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

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

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

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

from the Japanese Yadonushi meaning "owner (Nushi) of a house to stay (Yado)", referring to the trans-encapsidation of yadokarivirus RNA and RdRP; the suffix ‑viridae for family taxa

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

from the Ancient Greek γάμμα (gámma), the third 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: Alternaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2022.001F.Alternaviridae_newfam    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Alternaria alternata, the name of the fungal host of the earliest isolate, and RNA for ribonucleic acid, referring to the type of nucleic acid comprising the genome of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from the Ancient Greek ὀρθός (orthos), meaning “correct” or “straight”  and the Latin toti, meaning "undivided" or "whole",  referring to the mono-segmented dsRNA genome of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from respiratory enteric orphan, referring to the tropism and an early lack of disease association of some viruses in the taxon ; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

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

from reo, an acronym of respiratory enteric orphan viruses, referring to the tropism and an early lack of disease association of some viruses in the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Sedoreoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2020.028M.R.Reovirales_2nfam    ICTV Report: Sedoreoviridae  Reference:   

from the Latin sedo, meaning "smooth", referring to the appearance  of the core particles of viruses in the family, and reo, for respiratory enteric orphan, referring to the tropism and lack of disease association of some members of the virus family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Spinareoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2020.028M.R.Reovirales_2nfam    ICTV Report: Spinareoviridae  Reference:   

from the Latin spina, meaning “spike”, referring to the presence of spikes or turrets on the surface of the core particles of viruses in the family, and reo for respiratory enteric orphan, referring to the tropism and lack of disease association of some members of the virus family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

to honour Anne K. Vidaver, who co-discovered Pseudomonas phage phi6; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

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

to honour Leonard Mindich, who contributed significantly to cystovirid research; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Cystoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1978    ICTV Report: Cystoviridae  Reference: PMID: 16789137  

phonetically from the Greek kystis, meaning “bladder” or “sack”, referring to the virion morphology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from the Ancient Greek κίτρινος (kítrinos) meaning "yellow", a reference to yellow fever virus, a member of the taxon; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

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

from alphavirus supergroup, referring to a historical name for some members of the taxon ; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

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

from hepevirus-like, referreing to the family Hepeviridae included in this taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Alphatetraviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2010.001a-qI.A.v4.Tetraviridae    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet and  τετρα (tetra), the Greek cardinal 4, referring to the relationship to viruses of the Alpha-like supergroup in the replicase region and the T=4 capsid architecture that define the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Benyviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2013.011a-dP.A.v1.Benyviridae    ICTV Report: Benyviridae  Reference:   

from the genus Benyvirus, which is derived from beet necrotic yellow vein virus, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Hepeviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2008.005-009V.v2.Hepeviridae    ICTV Report: Hepeviridae  Reference:   

from hepatitis E virus, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Matonaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2018.013S.A.v3.Matonaviridae    ICTV Report: Matonaviridae  Reference:   

to honour the physician George Maton who first distinguished rubella from measles and scarlet fever; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

to honour G. P. Martelli, a pioneer in closterovirid research; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Bromoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1993    ICTV Report: Bromoviridae  Reference: PMID: 1378769  

from Brome mosaic disease and also from Bromus, the host genus of brome mosaic virus, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Closteroviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1996    ICTV Report: Closteroviridae  Reference: PMID: 393100  

phonetically from the Greek kloster, meaning "spindle" or "thread" referring to the virion morhology of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Endornaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2006.019-20P.04.Endornaviridae    ICTV Report: Endornaviridae  Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek  ἔνδον (endon) meaning "within" and RNA for ribonucleic acid, referring to the dsRNA genomes or "endogenous dsRNAs" of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Kitaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2018.002P.A.Kitaviridae    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

to honour the Brazilian plant virologist, Elliot Watanabe Kitajima, who contributed to the discovery of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Mayoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2019.006G.A.v1.Riboviria.docx    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

to honour the British plant virologist Michael A Mayo, past Life Member of the ICTV; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Togaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1974    ICTV Report: Togaviridae  Reference: PMID: 7968923  

from the Latin toga, meaning “cloak”, possibly referring to the enveloped virion of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Virgaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2007.036-8P.Virgaviridae    ICTV Report: Virgaviridae  Reference:   

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

Taxon: Tymovirales  Rank: order  Proposal: 2007.027a-fP.v2.Tymovirales    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from turnip yellow mosaic virus, a member of the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Alphaflexiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2007.018-20P.v2.Alphaflexiviridae    ICTV Report: Alphaflexiviridae  Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and flexi, referring to the first family created from the division of the old family Flexiviridae, a group of  filamentous and highly flexible viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Betaflexiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2007.021-023P.v2.Betaflexiviridae    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek βῆτα (bêta), the second letter of the Greek alphabet, and flexi, referring to the second family created from the division of the old family Flexiviridae, a group of  filamentous and highly flexible viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Deltaflexiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2017.020P.A.v1.Deltaflexiviridae    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek  δέλτα (délta), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, and flexi, referring to the fourth family created from the division of the old family Flexiviridae, a group of  filamentous and highly flexible viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Gammaflexiviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2007.024-026P.v2.Gammaflexiviridae    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the Ancient Greek γάμμα (gámma), the third letter of the Greeerk alphabet, and flexi, referring to the third family created from the division of the old family Flexiviridae, a group of  filamentous and highly flexible viruses; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Tymoviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 2002a    ICTV Report:   Reference: PMID: 12209322  

from turnip yellow mosaic virus, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from flavivirus supergroup, referring to a historical name for some members of the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

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

from the Spanish amarillo, meaning "yellow", a reference to yellow fever virus, a member of the taxon; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Flaviviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1984    ICTV Report: Flaviviridae  Reference: PMID: 3000978  

from the Latin flavus, meaning “yellow”, referring to yellow fever, the disease caused by yellow fever virus, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from Mag 115, the original designation of Nodamura virus, and Saitama Prefecture, Japan, where studies were done that led to the discovery of the virus ; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

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

from Nodamura virus, a member of the taxon, first isolated in the village of Nodamura, Japan; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Nodaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1981    ICTV Report: Nodaviridae  Reference: PMID: 11457991  

from Nodamura virus, a member of the family, first isolated in the village of Nodamura, Japan; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Sinhaliviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2019.006G.A.v1.Riboviria    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from Sinaivirus, a defunct name for a member of the family and Halictivirus, an unclassified, closely related virus; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from Tombusviridae, Luteovirus and Carmotetraviridae, three taxa included in the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

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

from tombusvirus-like, referring to Tombusviridae, a family included in the taxon ; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Carmotetraviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: 2010.001a-qI.A.v4.Tetraviridae    ICTV Report:   Reference:   

from the type of replicase (RdRP) characteristic of carmo-like (from carnation mottle) plant viruses and from the Ancient Greek τετρα (tetra), the Greek cardinal 4, referring to the  T=4 capsid architecture of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Tombusviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1993    ICTV Report:   Reference: PMID: 7817878  

from tomato bushy stunt virus, a member of the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from Leviviridae and Narnaviridae, two families included in the taxon; the suffix -viricota for phylum taxa

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

from the Zulu amabili, meaning "twenty", referring to Saccharomyces 20S RNA narnavirus, a member of the taxon; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa

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

from the chemical element wolfram, (also known as tungsten, abbreviation: W), referring to the discovery of Saccharomyces 20S RNA narnavirus by sequencing "W dsRNA" of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; the suffix -virales for order taxa

Taxon: Narnaviridae  Rank: family  Proposal: Ratification 1998    ICTV Report:   Reference: PMID: 23498906  

from naked and RNA for ribonucleic acid, referring to the fact that viruses of the family have no true virion; the suffix -viridae for family taxa

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

from Howell Township, New Jersey, USA, where a fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) was isolated that was infected with a mitovirus; the suffix -viricetes for class taxa