title: Gender of the genus Botrylloides Milne Edwards (1841) [Tunicata: Ascidiacea].
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).
authors.affiliation: Biosciences Department, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK.; Email: j.s.ryland@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ryland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014561:Urochordata / Q000145:classification*