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Type: Correspondence
Published: 2015-06-17
Page range: 398–400
Abstract views: 30
PDF downloaded: 2

Gender of the genus Botrylloides Milne Edwards (1841) [Tunicata: Ascidiacea]

Biosciences Department, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK.
Invasive species nomenclature Styelidae type species

Abstract

Milne Edwards (1841) introduced Botrylloides listing species with both feminine and neuter word endings. The International Code on Zoological Nomenclature, however, indicates that generic names ending -oides should be masculine unless the introducing author unambiguously indicated a different gender. The resulting uncertainty has caused prolonged confusion over the correct gender of Botrylloides. It is here affirmed that Milne Edwards did not provide a clear indication of gender and the general rule of the International Code applies: Botrylloides has masculine gender. The type species is B. rotifer Milne Edwards (its ending corrected from the feminine B. rotifera).