pandoraviridae pandoraviridae pandoraviridae is a family of double-stranded dna viruses that infect amoebae. there is only one genus in this family: pandoravirus. several species in this genus have been described, including pandoravirus dulcis, pandoravirus salinus and pandoravirus yedoma. pandoraviridae virus classification group: group i (dsdna) order: megavirales family: pandoraviridae genus: pandoravirus history the viruses were discovered in 2013. description the viruses in this family are the second largest known virus (~1 micrometer) in capsid length, after pithovirus (1.5 micrometer). pandoravirus has the largest viral genome known, containing double-stranded dna of 1.9 to 2.5 megabase pairs. evolution these viruses appear to be related to the phycodnaviruses.