Dichotomous Key
Name
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1. Has pointed ears
.................................... go to 3
Has rounded ears
....................................go to 2
2. Has no tail
............................................. Kentuckyus
Has tail ..................................................
Dakotus
3. Ears point upward
.................................... go to 5
Ears point downward ..............go to 4
4. Engages in waving behavior
............................. Dallus
Has hairy tufts on ears
..........................................Californius
5. Engages in waving behavior
............................. WalaWala
Does not engage in waving behavior
....................go to 6
6. Has hair on head
............................................. Beverlus
Has no hair on head (may have ear
tufts) .......go to 7
7. Has a tail .............................................
Norns belong to the genus
Norno and can be divided into
eight species that are generally
located in specific regions of
the world. Use the dichotomos
key to identify the norns below.
Write their complete scientific
name (genus + species) in the
blank.
Yorkio
Has no tail, aggressive
............................ Rajus
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Name:
Taxonomy, Classification, and Dichotomous
Keys
Help! Scientists have discovered quite a few new crewatures on planet
Pamishan. They need your help to identify and classify them. Use the
dichotomous key on the next page to identify these creatures.
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A Key to New Pamishan Creatures
1. a. The creature has a large wide head............................go to 2
b. The creature has a small narrow head..........................go to 11
2. a. It has 3 eyes ................................................go to 3
b. It has 2 eyes ................................................go to 7
3. a. There is a star in the middle of its chest....................go to 4
b. There is no star in the middle of its chest ..................go to 6
4. a. The creature has hair spikes .................................Broadus hairus
b. The creature has no hair spikes...............................go to 5
5. a. The bottom of the creature is arch-shaped ....................Broadus archus
b. The bottom of the creature is M-shaped .......................Broadus emmus
6. a. The creature has an arch-shaped bottom .......................Broadus plainus
b. The creature has an M-shaped bottom...........................Broadus tritops
7. a. The creature has hairy spikes ................................go to 8
b. The creature has no spikes....................................go to 10
8. a. There is a star in the middle of its body ....................Broadus hairystarus
b. The is no star in the middle of its body .....................go to 9
9. a. The creature has an arch shaped bottom .......................Broadus hairyemmus
b. The creature has an M shaped bottum ..........................Broadus kiferus
10. a. The body is symmetrical ......................................Broadus walter
b. The body is not symmetrical...................................Broadus anderson
11. a. The creatrue has no antennae .................................go to 12
b. The creature has antennae ....................................go to 14
12. a. There are spikes on the face .................................Narrowus wolfus
b. There are no spikes on the face ..............................go to 13
13. a. The creature has no spike anywhere ...........................Narrowus blankus
b. There are spikes on the right leg ............................Narrowus starboardus
14. a. The creature has 2 eyes.......................................go to 15
b. The creature has 1 eye........................................Narrowus cyclops
15. a. The creature has a mouth......................................go to 16
b. The creature has no mouth.....................................go to 17
16. a. There are spikes on the left leg .............................Narrowus portus
b. There are no spikes at all ...................................Narrowus plainus
17. a. The creature has spikes ......................................go to 18
b. The creature has no spikes ...................................Narrowus georginia
18. a. There are spikes on the head .................................go to 19
b. There are spikes on the right leg.............................Narrowus montanian
19. a. There are spikes covering the face ...........................Narrowus beardus
b. There are spikes only on the outside edge of head ............Narrowus fuzzus
Identification of living organisms (plants, monera, protista, fungi, bacteria and animals) in taxonomy
is frequently aided by using a dichotomous key, a (usually written) device constructed from a series
of highly organized statements arranged into couplets. A couplet consists of (typically) two
descriptions which should represent mutually exclusive choices (often it is a particular combination
of characteristics that determines the difference). Both choices are read and compared with the
specimen to be identified. Having several individuals of the same species to observe is often helpful.
Once a decision is made, that selection directs you to another couplet (either the next in order or one
further on in the key), and this process is repeated until a conclusion (successful identification) is
reached. At this point a verification step is important: compare the specimen with any details in the
description and/or any available figures. Also consider habitat and location where the collection was
made. If the description seems satisfactory, a correct identification probably has been achieved. If
the description is not satisfactory in one or more important particulars, back up to some earlier
couplet and start over, questioning each decision more carefully.
A very common error in using a dichotomous key is the assumption that the correct identification is
even included in that key. It is possible that a specimen cannot be identified with a particular key, yet
the key will lead the user to an end that appears to be the "answer". For this reason, comparing the
specimen with a more detailed description is vitally important—a dichotomous key alone cannot be
used to identify specimens, unless the specimens are known in advance to be included within the
key.