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 Realm of interest:

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

Realm: Riboviria

Taxon: Megatotiviridae Rank: family Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg.zip 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

Taxon: Ootiviridae Rank: family Proposal: 2023.015F.Ghabrivirales_reorg.zip 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.zip ICTV Report: Pistolviridae 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.zip 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.zip 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.zip ICTV Report: Alternaviridae 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: Resentoviricetes Rank: class Proposal: 2019.006G.zip 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.zip 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.zip 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.zip 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.zip 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.zip 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.pdf 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.zip 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.zip 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.zip ICTV Report: Reference:

from hepevirus-like, referring 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.zip ICTV Report: Alphatetraviridae 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.pdf 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.pdf 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.zip 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: Mycoalphaviridae Rank: family Proposal: 2024.007F.Mycoalphaviridae_newfam.zip ICTV Report: Reference:

from the Greek myco, meaning fungus, and alpha-like virus (denoting the host and type of genomic organization); the suffix -viridae for family taxa

Taxon: Martellivirales Rank: order Proposal: 2019.006G.zip 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.pdf 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.pdf 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.pdf 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.zip ICTV Report: Kitaviridae 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.zip ICTV Report: Mayoviridae 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.pdf 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.pdf 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.pdf 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.pdf 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.pdf ICTV Report: Betaflexiviridae 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.zip ICTV Report: Deltaflexiviridae 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.pdf ICTV Report: Gammaflexiviridae Reference:

from the Ancient Greek γάμμα (gámma), the third letter of the Greek 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.pdf 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.zip 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.zip 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.pdf 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.zip 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.zip 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.pdf 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.zip ICTV Report: Sinhaliviridae 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.zip 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.zip 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.zip ICTV Report: Carmotetraviridae 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.pdf 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.zip 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.zip 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.zip 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.pdf ICTV Report: Narnaviridae 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