boylii

Boylii is a Latinized specific epithet used in the scientific names of multiple species across different groups of living organisms. In binomial nomenclature, the second part of a species name, the epithet, is typically written in lowercase and, in formal text, is paired with a capitalized genus name and both parts are italicized. The suffix -ii is a standard Latin genitive ending used to honor a person, usually a man, associated with the species’ discovery or description.

The epithet boylii appears in both zoological and botanical naming, reflecting the rules of the respective nomenclature codes (the ICZN for animals and the ICN for plants). Patronyms like boylii are chosen to acknowledge individuals, and the exact person honored is usually noted in the original species description or subsequent taxonomic literature. The usage follows broader principles such as priority, uniqueness (avoiding homonyms), and appropriate gender agreement with the genus.

Because boylii occurs in many unrelated lineages, there is no single article that covers all aspects of the epithet beyond its role as a patronymic name. Each species bearing the epithet has its own taxonomic history and description, and those details are found in the respective species articles or taxonomic references. In summary, boylii functions as a generic, masculine patronymic epithet within the binomial names of diverse organisms.