Dichotomous Keys
Group A
Step Steps of Dichotomous Key
1
A. Legs are present
B. Legs are not present
2
A. Wings are present
B. Wings are not present
3
A. Lives in hollow trees, chimneys and similar
structures
B. Lives wherever there is food
4
A. Has a curly tail
B. Has a straight tail
5
A. Lives in tropical rainforest areas
B. Lives elsewhere
6
A. Makes food using photosynthesis
B. Does not use photosynthesis
7
A. It is a unicellular organism
B. It is a multicellular organism
8
A. Certain species suck blood
B. Organism does not suck blood
9
A. Can grow up to 80 m high
B. Cannot grow up to 80 m high
Go to Step/organism
Step 2
Step 4
Step 3
Step 6
Organism: Hornet
Organism: Housefly
Organism: Pig
Step 5
Organism: Iguana
Organism: Salamander
Step 9
Step 7
Organism: Paramecium
Organism: Step 8
Organism: Leech
Organism: Mushroom
Organism: Pine Tree
Organism: Tulip Plant
Group B
Step
1
2
3
4
5
Step of Dichotomous Key
A. Wings are present
B. Wings are not present
A. Some species suck blood
B. Does not suck blood
A. Feathers are present
B. Feathers are not present
A. Organism can move
B. Organisms cannot move
A. Organism is unicellular
B. Organism is multicellular
Go to Step/Organism
Step 2
Step 4
Organism: Bat
Step 3
Organism: Blue Jay
Organism: Moth
Step 5
Step 8
Organism: Amoeba
Step 6
6
7
8
9
A. Eats hay
B. Does not eat hay
A. Lives in water
B. Lives on land
A. Appears on rotting bread
B. Appears elsewhere
A. Organism is an ingredient for bread
B. Organism is not an ingredient
Organism: Horse
Step 7
Organism: Lamprey
Organism: Earthworm
Organism: Bread Mould
Step 9
Organism: Wheat
Organism: Birch Tree
Group C
Step Step of Dichotomous Key
1
A. Organism can move
B. Organism cannot move
2
A. Organism lives in water
B. Organism lives on land
3
A. Organism lives in fresh water
B. Organism lives in the sea
4
A. Organism has legs
B. Organism does not have legs
5
A. Organism can fly
B. Organism cannot fly
6
A. Organism has antennae
B. Organism does not have antennae
7
A. Organism performs photosynthesis
B. Organism does not perform photosynthesis
8
A. Organism grows up to 15 feet
B. Organism grows up to 95 metres
9
A. Organism lives underwater
B. Organism does not live underwater
Go to Step/Organism
Step 2
Step 7
Step 3
Step 4
Organism: Euglena
Organism: Sea anemone
Step 5
Organism: Snake
Organism: Robin
Step 6
Organism: Ant
Organism: Cow
Step 8
Step 9
Organism: Sunflower
Organism: Spruce Tree
Organism: Starfish
Organism: Bread Mould
Group D
Step Step of Dichotomous Key
1
A. Legs are present
Go to Step/Organism
Step 2
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
B. Legs are not present
A. Organism lives in water
B. Organism lives on land
A. Organism can fly
B. Organism cannot fly
A. Organism’s race has a queen
B. Organism’s race does not have a queen
A. Organism can move
B. Organism cannot move
A. Organism has flagella
B. Organism does not have flagella
A. Organism can live underwater
B. Organism cannot live underwater
A. Organism can live on land
B. Organism cannot live on land
A. Organism leaves a rash
B. Organism does not leave a rash
Step 5
Organism: Blue Whale
Step 3
Step 4
Organism: Prairie dog
Organism: Wasp
Organism: Beetle
Step 6
Step 7
Organism: E. coli
Organism: Python
Step 8
Step 9
Organism: Moss
Organism: Red algae
Organism: Poison Ivy
Organism: Dandelion
Group E
Step Step of Dichotomous Key
1
A. Wings are present
B. Wings are not present
2
A. Organism can fly
B. Organism cannot fly
3
A. Organism has a beak
B. Organism does not have a beak
4
A. Organism can swim
B. Organism cannot swim
5
A. Organism can move
B. Organism cannot move
6
A. Organism lives in water
B. Organism does not live in water
7
A. Organism breathes through blowhole
B. Organism does not breathe through
blowhole
8
A. Organism has flagella
Go to Step/Organism
Step 2
Step 5
Organism: Penguin
Step 3
Step 4
Organism: Cricket
Organism: Blue Heron
Organism: Robin
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Organism: Blue Whale
Organism: Diatom
Organism: Paramecium
9
B. Organism does not have flagella
A. Organism is a tree
B. Organism is not a tree
Organism: Porcupine
Organism: Tamarack
Organism: Canola
Group F
Step Step of Dichotomous Key
1
A. Legs are present
B. Legs are not present
2
A. Paws are present
B. Paws are not present
3
A. Organism is a herbivore
B. Organism is not a herbivore
4
A. Organism is an omnivore
B. Organism is a carnivore
5
A. Organism has hooves
B. Organism does not have hooves
6
A. Organism can fly
B. Organism cannot fly
7
A. Organism lives in animal hair
B. Organism lives in human head hair
8
A. Organism has roots
B. Organism does not have roots
9
A. Organism is a flower
B. Organism is a tree
Go to Step/Organism
Step 2
Step 8
Step 3
Step 5
Organism: Beaver
Step 4
Organism: Grizzly bear
Organism: Wolf
Organism: Zebra
Step 6
Organism: Grasshopper
Step 7
Organism: Tick
Organism: Lice
Step 9
Organism: Blue green
algae
Organism: Tulip
Organism: Sugar Maple