Steps of the Dichotomous Key for fictional organisms
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Pegasus
Centaur
Griffin
Dragon
Chimera
Hydra
step
Dichotomous Key
Go to step:
1
A. wings are present.
Step 2
B. organism does not have
wings.
Step 4
A. the wings have feathers
Step 3
B. the wings do not have
feathers
Step 4
A. hooves
Pegasus
B. no hooves
Griffin
A. multiple heads
Hydra
B. one head
Centaur
A. hybrid
Chimera
B. not a hybrid
Dragon
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3
4
5
Group A:
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Housefly
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Mushroom
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Pine tree
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Pig
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Paramecium
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Tulip plant
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Iguana

Leech
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Salamander
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hornet
Steps
Dichotomous Key
Go to step:
1
A. organism has wings
Step 6
B. organism is without wings
Step 2
A. organism has roots
Step 5
B. organism has legs
Step 4
A. organism is microscopic
Paramecium
B. organism is not microscopic
Step 4
A. organism lays eggs
Step 6
B. organism is a mammal
Pig
A. Plant has bark
Pine tree
B. without bark
Step 8
A. Live sin hollow trees, chimneys, and similar structures.
hornet
B. Lives wherever there is food.
housefly
A. organism has a tail
Step 9
B. organism does not have a tail
leech
A. flower petals
Tulip plant
B. without flower petals
mushroom
A. tropical rainforests
Iguana
B. elsewhere
Salamander
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9
Group B:
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amoeba
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birch tree
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horse
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bread mold
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blue jay
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earth worm
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lamprey
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bat
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moth
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wheat
step
Dichotomous key
Go to step:
1
A. unicellular
Step 5
B. multi-cellular
Step 2
A. roots
Step 7
B. has legs
Step 3
A. more than 4 legs
Step
B. without legs
Step
A. wings
Step 6
B. without wings
horse
A. grows on bread
Bread mold
B. lives in fresh water
amoeba
A. Mammal
Bat
B. lays eggs
Step 8
A. organism cannot be used to make bread.
Birch tree.
B. organism is used to make bread.
Wheat.
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3
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6
7
8
9
A. active during night.
Moth.
B. active during day.
Blue jay.
A. organism lives in freshwater.
Lamprey.
B. organism lives in the earth.
Earthworm.
Group C:
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Euglena
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Cow
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Snake
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Spruce tree
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Bread mold
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Robin (bird)
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Sunflower
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Ant
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Starfish
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Sea anemone
step
Dichotomous key
Go to step:
1
A. The organism is capable of moving on its own.
Step 2
B. The organism cannot move on its own.
Step 7
A. Organism lives on land.
Step 3
B. Organism lives in water.
Step 6
A. organism has 4 or more legs.
Step 4
B. organism has less than 4 legs.
Step 5
A. organism has a segmented body.
Ant
B. organism does not have a segmented body.
cow
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3
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8
9
A. the organism is capable of flight.
Robin
B. the organism is incapable of flight.
Snake
A. organism is microscopic.
Euglena
B. organism is not microscopic.
Sea anemone
A. organism uses photosynthesis.
Step 8
B. organism does not use photosynthesis.
Step 9
A. organism has bark.
Spruce tree
B. organism does not have bark.
Sunflower
A. organism grows on bread.
Bread mold
B. organism does not grow on bread.
starfish
Group D:
-Red Algae, -Wasp, -Python, -Prairie dog, -dandelion, - beetle, -poison ivy, -blue whale, -moss, -E.coli
step
Dichotomous key
Go to step:
1
A. Organism is capable of moving on its own.
Step 2
B. Organism is not capable of moving on its own.
Step 7
A. Organism has 4 or more legs.
Step 3
B. Organism has less than 4 legs.
Step 5
A. organism is an insect.
Step 4
B. Organism is not an insect.
Prairie dog
A. organism’s race has a queen.
Wasp
B. organism’s race does not have a queen.
Beetle
A. organism lives in water.
Blue whale
B. organism lives on land.
Step 6
A. microscopic
E. coli
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9
B. not microscopic
Python
A. uses photosynthesis.
Step 8
B. does not use photosynthesis.
Step 9
A. organism causes a rash.
Poison ivy
B. organism does not cause a rash.
dandelion
A. organism incapable of moving on its own and lives in
water.
Red algae
B. organism cannot move on its own and lives water or
land.
moss
Group E:
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Penguin
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Robin
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Cricket
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Paramecium
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Porcupine
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Blue heron
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Tamarack
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Killer Whale
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Canola
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diatom
Step
Dichotomous Key
Go to step:
1
A. organism can move on its own.
Step 2
B. organism is incapable of moving on its own.
2
A. organism has wings.
Step 3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B. organism does not have wings.
Step 6
A. organism is incapable of flight.
Penguin
B. organism is capable of flight.
Step 4
A. organism can swim.
Blue heron
B. organism cannot swim.
Step 5
A. organism is an insect.
Cricket
B. organism is not an insect.
Robin
A. organism lives on land.
Step 7
B. organism lives in the sea.
Step 10
A. organism uses photosynthesis.
Step 8
B. organism does not use photosynthesis.
Step 9
A. organism has bark.
Tamarack
B. organism does not have bark.
Canola
A. organism is microscopic.
Paramecium
B. organism is not microscopic.
Porcupine
A. organism breathes through a blow hole.
Blue whale
B. organism does not breathe through a blow hole.
diatom
Group F:

beaver
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sugar maple
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blue green algae
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tick
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lice
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zebra
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grizzly bear
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grasshopper
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wolf
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tulip
Step
Dichotomous Key
Go to step:
1
A. organism’s that have legs.
Step 2
B. organism that do not have legs.
Step8
A. organism has 4 legs.
Step 3
B. organism has more than 4 legs.
Step 6
A. organism is an herbivore.
Step 4
B. organism is not an herbivore.
Step 5
A. organism has paws.
Beaver
B. organism has hooves.
Zebra
A. organism is a carnivore.
Wolf
B. organism is an omnivore.
Grizzly bear
A. organism that flies.
Grasshopper
B. organism that does not fly.
Step 7
A. organism lives in human head hair.
Lice
B. organism that lives in animal fur.
tick
A. organism that has roots.
Step 9
B. organism that does not have roots.
Bleu green algae
A. organism has bark.
Sugar maple
B. organism has no bark.
Tulip
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9