Virus Properties by Family

Columns in the table with blue text headers can be sorted by clicking on the header text. Clicking twice will reverse the sort order.

Column 1
A numerical designation is provided for each indicated taxonomic family. This number is not persistent and will vary according to the settings of the selection filter. It  provides a means of counting the number of families matching the filters.

Family (sortable)
This column lists the virus families that are recognized in the current Master Species List (MSL).

Genera (sortable)
The number of genera present in the indicated family.

Species (sortable)
The number of species present in the indicated family.

Genome (sortable)
This column describes the chemical nature of the genome (DNA or RNA) and whether it is double-stranded (ds) or single stranded (ss). The suffix -RT indicates that reverse transcription is involved in the replication of the genome.

For ss genomes, the polarity of the genome is indicated: (+), mRNA polarity; (-), complementary to mRNA; (+/-), ambisense. At the family level, viruses with segmented genomes may have segments with different polarities (e.g., some arenaviruses have only ssRNA(-), others have ssRNA(-) and ssRNA(+/-) segments. In this case, the genome composition is designated as ssRNA(-); ssRNA(+/-) to indicate that both forms can be found in the genome.

Genome topology (sortable)
This column indicates if the genome is a linear or circular molecule and the number of segments

Total genome size (kb or kbp)
This column indicates the range of sizes encompassed by genomes of virus isolates described in the current Virus Metadata Resource (VMR).

Envelope (sortable)
This column indicates if the virion is known to have, or not have, a lipid envelope. A value of "Yes or No" indicates the variable presence of an envelope. Viruses identified only by metagenomics will usually not have a value in this column (envelope is "not determined").

Virion shape (sortable)
This column indicates the shape of the virion, as seen by electron microscopy. The column also includes some predicted morphologies but does not include information for many viruses identified only by metagenomics.

Virion size
This column indicates the range of virion sizes encompassed by virus isolates described in the current VMR.

Host (sortable)
This column indicates the known host(s) of viruses in the family. Hosts are uncertain for many viruses, especially those described by metagenomic analysis of environmental samples. The term protist is used to mean any eukaryotic organism that is not an animal, plant or fungus.

ICTV Report Chapter
This column provides a link to the relevant ICTV online report chapter.

Display families with the following properties:

Enter any part of a taxon name at the rank of family or higher to return the matching family names in that hierarchy
Family Genera Species Genome Genome topology Genome size (kb/kbp) Envelope Virion shape Virion size Host ICTV Report Chapter
201 Orthototiviridae 1 32 dsRNA 1 linear segment 3.9–5.6 no icosahedral 40–49 nm diameter protists, fungi, plants, invertebrates Orthototiviridae
202 Ouroboviridae 30 50 ssDNA(+/-) 1 circular segment 1.2–2.6 invertebrates, vertebrates Ouroboviridae
203 Ovaliviridae 1 1 dsDNA 1 linear segment 23.2–23.3 yes ellipsoid 115 nm long, 80 nm wide archaea Ovaliviridae
204 Pachyviridae 3 5 dsDNA 1 linear segment 71.4–78.9 no head-tail 60 nm diameter head, 20 nm long tail bacteria
205 Papillomaviridae 53 133 dsDNA 1 circular segment 5.7–8.7 no icosahedral 55 nm diameter vertebrates Papillomaviridae
206 Paramyxoviridae 23 153 ssRNA(-) 1 linear segment 14.6–21.6 yes pleomorphic, mostly spherical (also filaments) 300–500 nm diameter vertebrates Paramyxoviridae
207 Partitiviridae 5 45 dsRNA 2 linear segments 3.0–4.8 no icosahedral 25–43 nm diameter protists, fungi, plants Partitiviridae
208 Parvoviridae 28 188 ssDNA; ssDNA(+/-) 1–2 linear segments 3.4–6.4 no icosahedral 18–26 nm diameter invertebrates, vertebrates Parvoviridae
209 Paulinoviridae 2 2 ssDNA(+) 1 circular segment 5.6–5.9 no filamentous 7–12 nm diameter, 620–830 nm long bacteria Paulinoviridae
210 Pecoviridae 8 15 ssDNA(+/-) 1 circular segment 2.7–3.1 vertebrates
211 Peduoviridae 58 126 dsDNA 1 linear segment 27.4–45.0 no head-tail 55–60 nm diameter head, 135–150 nm long tail bacteria
212 Peribunyaviridae 8 148 ssRNA(-) 3 linear segments 10.6–13.4 yes pleomorphic, mostly spherical 80–120 nm diameter invertebrates, vertebrates Peribunyaviridae
213 Permutotetraviridae 1 2 ssRNA(+) 1 linear segment 5.6–5.7 no icosahedral 40 nm diameter invertebrates Permutotetraviridae
214 Pervagoviridae 1 2 dsDNA 1 linear segment 72.5–73.0 no head-tail 60 nm diameter head, 23 nm long tail bacteria
215 Phasmaviridae 7 29 ssRNA(-) 3 linear segments 10.4–15.5 yes spherical 80–120 nm diameter invertebrates
216 Phenuiviridae 23 159 ssRNA(-); ssRNA(+/-) 2–8 linear segments 7.7–25.2 yes or no spherical or filamentous 80–120 nm diameter or 2–2.5 nm in diameter, 200–3000 nm long fungi, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates Phenuiviridae
217 Phlegiviridae 1 4 dsRNA 1 linear segment 9.4–11.6 no icosahedral or capsidless 55 nm diameter fungi
218 Phycodnaviridae 6 14 dsDNA 1 linear segment 154.6–407.4 no icosahedral 100–220 nm diameter protists
219 Picobirnaviridae 1 3 dsRNA 2 linear segments 3.5–4.3 no icosahedral 33–37 nm diameter bacteria Picobirnaviridae
220 Picornaviridae 68 159 ssRNA(+) 1 linear segment 2.1–10.2 no icosahedral 30–32 nm diameter vertebrates Picornaviridae
221 Pigerviridae 1 1 dsDNA 1 linear segment 53.2–53.3 predicted head-tail archaea
222 Pistolviridae 1 4 dsRNA 1 linear segment 5.8–6.7 no icosahedral 50 nm diameter vertebrates Pistolviridae
223 Pithoviridae 1 2 dsDNA 1 circular segment 610.0–610.1 no ovoid 1000–1500 nm long, 500 nm wide protists
224 Plasmaviridae 1 1 dsDNA 1 circular segment 11.9–12.0 yes pleomorphic, mostly spherical 50–125 nm diameter bacteria Plasmaviridae
225 Plectroviridae 4 6 ssDNA(+) 1 circular segment 4.4–8.3 no rod-shaped 10–16 nm diameter, 70–280 nm long bacteria Plectroviridae
226 Pleolipoviridae 3 16 ssDNA; ssDNA(+/-) or dsDNA 1 circular segment, or 1 linear segment 7.0–17.0 yes pleomorphic or pseudo-spherical 40–70 nm diameter archaea Pleolipoviridae
227 Pneumoviridae 2 5 ssRNA(-) 1 linear segment 13.3–15.3 yes pleomorphic, filamentous or spherical 70–90 nm diameter and >2000 nm long, or 80–600 nm diameter vertebrates Pneumoviridae
228 Polycipiviridae 3 14 ssRNA(+) 1 linear segment 10.3–12.2 no icosahedral 33 nm diameter invertebrates Polycipiviridae
229 Polydnaviriformidae 2 53 dsDNA multiple circular segments 185.2–567.7 yes ellipsoid 250 nm diameter, 200–900 nm long invertebrates
230 Polymycoviridae 1 10 dsRNA 4–8 linear segments 7.4–12.3 no filamentous or unconventional 12 nm diameter, ≧1000 nm long fungi Polymycoviridae
231 Polyomaviridae 8 118 dsDNA 1 circular segment 3.9–7.4 no icosahedral 40–45 nm diameter vertebrates Polyomaviridae
232 Pootjesviridae 5 11 dsDNA 1 linear segment 143.3–158.6 no head-tail 84–90 nm diameter head, 80–140 nm long tail bacteria
233 Portogloboviridae 1 2 dsDNA 1 circular segment 20.2–20.5 no icosahedral 90 nm diameter archaea Portogloboviridae
234 Pospiviroidae 5 40 ssRNA 1 circular segment 0.2–0.4 capsidless plants Pospiviroidae
235 Potyviridae 12 249 ssRNA(+) 1–2 linear segments 8.1–11.7 no filamentous 11–20 nm diameter, 650–950 nm long plants Potyviridae
236 Poxviridae 22 56 dsDNA 1 linear segment 127.8–359.9 yes oval or brick-shaped 220–450 nm long x 140–260 nm wide x 140–260 nm high invertebrates, vertebrates Poxviridae
237 Pseudototiviridae 4 46 dsRNA 1 linear segment 4.6–6.3 no icosahedral 30–45 nm diameter protists, fungi, vertebrates
238 Pseudoviridae 3 33 ssRNA-RT 2 identical linear segments 4.6–21.9 no spherical or ovoid 20–40 nm diameter protists, fungi, plants, invertebrates Pseudoviridae
239 Pungoviridae 1 1 dsDNA 1 linear segment 37.0–37.1 no head-tail 60 nm diameter head, 125 nm long tail archaea
240 Pyrstoviridae 1 1 dsDNA 1 linear segment 42.2–42.3 no head-tail 50 nm diameter head, 60 nm long tail archaea Pyrstoviridae
241 Qinviridae 1 8 ssRNA(-) 2 linear segments 7.3–8.3 invertebrates Qinviridae
242 Quadriviridae 1 3 dsRNA 4 linear segments 16.8–17.6 no icosahedral 48 nm diameter fungi Quadriviridae
243 Quambiviridae 1 4 ssRNA(+/-) 1 circular segment 4.5–5.2 fungi
244 Redondoviridae 1 2 ssDNA(+/-) 1 circular segment 3.0–3.1 vertebrates Redondoviridae
245 Retroviridae 11 65 ssRNA-RT 2 identical linear segments 2.4–13.3 yes spherical 80–100 nm diameter vertebrates Retroviridae
246 Rhabdoviridae 56 434 ssRNA(-) 1–2 linear segments 9.8–16.2 yes or no bullet-shaped/bacilliform or filamentous 45–100 nm diameter, 100–430 nm long, or variable plants, invertebrates, vertebrates Rhabdoviridae
247 Rhodogtaviriformidae 4 4 dsDNA multisegmented uncertain no oblate, head-tail 45 nm long and 65 nm wide head, 50 nm long tail bacteria
248 Roniviridae 2 4 ssRNA(+) 1 linear segment 26.2–29.2 yes rod-shaped 40–60 nm diameter, 150–200 nm long invertebrates Roniviridae
249 Rountreeviridae 6 38 dsDNA 1 linear segment 16.6–18.9 no head-tail 55 nm diameter head, 27 nm long tail bacteria
250 Rudiviridae 7 17 dsDNA 1 linear segment 20.2–36.5 no filamentous 23–38 nm diameter, 830–900 nm long archaea Rudiviridae