diff --git a/api/genera.go b/api/genera.go
index ded9823..ff10d43 100644
--- a/api/genera.go
+++ b/api/genera.go
@@ -90,5 +90,5 @@ func serveDeleteGenus(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 	}
 
-	return writeJSON(w, &models.Genus{})
+	return writeJSON(w, nil)
 }
diff --git a/api/species.go b/api/species.go
index 4d16135..c91686b 100644
--- a/api/species.go
+++ b/api/species.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func serveDeleteSpecies(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 	}
 
-	return writeJSON(w, &models.Species{})
+	return writeJSON(w, nil)
 }
 
 func serveSubrouterSpeciesList(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
diff --git a/models/species_test.go b/models/species_test.go
index 81bb84c..20f1f8a 100644
--- a/models/species_test.go
+++ b/models/species_test.go
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ func TestSpeciesService_Delete(t *testing.T) {
 	mux.HandleFunc(urlPath(t, router.DeleteSpecies, map[string]string{"Id": "1"}), func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		called = true
 		testMethod(t, r, "DELETE")
+		testBody(t, r, "")
 
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 		writeJSON(w, want)