Clavaviridae is a family of double stranded viruses that archaea. There is one genus in this family (Clavavirus). Within this genus only a single species has been described to date.

The name is derived from the Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

word clava meaning stick.

Virology

The virons are bacilliform in shape and ~140 nanometers (nm) in length and 20 nm in diameter. One end is pointed and the other is rounded.

The genome is double stranded DNA and circular. It does not integrate into the host genome.

Infection with this virus does not cause host cell lysis.