Alphapithovirus
| Alphapithovirus | |
|---|---|
| Alphapithovirus sibericum | |
| Virus classification | |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Varidnaviria |
| Kingdom: | Bamfordvirae |
| Phylum: | Nucleocytoviricota |
| Class: | Megaviricetes |
| Order: | Pimascovirales |
| Family: | Pithoviridae |
| Subfamily: | Orthopithovirinae |
| Genus: | Alphapithovirus |
| Species | |
| |
Alphapithovirus, also known as Pithovirus sibericum, is a genus of giant virus known from two species, Alphapithovirus sibericum, which infects amoebae, and Alphapithovirus massiliense. It is DNA-based and is a member of the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses clade. It was discovered in 2014, when a viable specimen was found in a 30,000-year-old ice core harvested from permafrost in Siberia, Russia. It is the third-largest known giant virus, behind only Megaklothovirus horridgei and Klothovirus casanovai.