As you walked out of the room, you should have congratulated El-Jefe...
"You know bossman, when you just used species in that sentence, you gave off an air of having a specious appearance of intellectual genius. Was that your intention?"
Then smile and shake your head in a way that you know will make him say yes.
Haha, that would have worked a treat although might have been too much for his poor head. He might have thrown himself into the abyss after his pen lid!! :OD