PAMISHAN CREATURES
TAXONOMY, CLASSIFICATION AND USING A
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
Scientists have discovered the creatures below on planet Pamishan. They need
help identifying and classifying them. Use the DICHOTOMOUS key on the
next page to identify each creature
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
Using the key: Look at the first creature in the diagram. Then read question 1. If you think the
creature has a large wide head, go to the second question. If you think the creature has a small
narrow head then go to question 11. Keep answering the questions by referring back to the picture
of creature number 1 until you can name it. Then go to creature number 2. Continue until you have
named all the creatures in the diagram.
Question
1
a
b
2
a
b
3
a
b
4
a
b
5
a
b
6
a
b
7
a
b
8
a
b
9
a
b
10
a
b
11
a
b
12
a
b
13
a
b
14
a
b
15
a
b
16
a
b
17
a
b
18
a
b
19
a
IF YES THEN
The creature has a large wide head
The creature has a small narrow head
It has 3 eyes
It has 2 eyes
There is a star in the middle of its chest
There is no star in the middle of its chest
The creature has hair spikes
The creature has no hair spikes
The bottom of the creature is arch-shaped
The bottom of the creature is M-shaped
The creature has an arch-shaped bottom
The creature has an M-shaped bottom
The creature has hairy spikes
The creature has no spikes
There is a star in the middle of its body
There is no star in the middle of its body
The creature has an arch-shaped bottom
The creature has an M-shaped bottom
The body is symmetrical
The body is not symmetrical
The creature has no antennae
The creature has antennae
There are spikes on the face
There are no spikes on the face
The creature has no spikes anywhere
There are spikes on the right leg
The creature has 2 eyes
The creature has 1 eye
The creature has a mouth
The creature has no mouth
There are spikes on the left leg
There are no spikes at all
The creature has spikes
The creature has no spikes
There are spikes on the head
There are spikes on the right leg
There are spikes covering the face
GO TO
2
11
3
7
4
6
Broadus hairus
5
Broadus archus
Broadus emmus
Broadus plainus
Broadus tritops
8
10
Broadus hairysaurus
9
Broadus hairyemmus
Broadus kiferus
Broadus walter
Broadus anderson
12
14
Narrowus wolfus
13
Narrowus blankus
Narrowus starboardus
15
Narrowus Cyclops
16
17
Narrowus portus
Narrowus plainus
18
Narrowus georginia
19
Narrowus montanian
Narrowus beardus
b
There are spikes only on the outside edge
of the head
Narrowus fuzzus
PAMISHAN CREATURES
Number NAME of each Pamishan Creature
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20