Dichotomus Key (Biological Key)

 One tool used to identify unfamiliar organisms Common Name Scientific Name
 A series of paired statements that describe physical
characteristics of diff organisms
 Focuses on morphology
 Limited to 2 statements at a time (in a question form
which can be answered with a yes or a no)
 Domestic dog Canis (lupus) familiaris 1. Use the most general traits that can be used to divide
Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias organisms up into 2 categories. These 2 categories will
Rose Rosa sylvestris become 1a & 1b
Example
Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis
1a … go to 2
Wild turkey Meieagris gallopavo 1b … go to 3
Bottlenose 2. The second step (2a & 2b) needs to consist of a pair of
Tursiops truncates
dolphin statements that will allow for the identification of 1
Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus organism (2b should ID one organism)
Atlantic canary Serinus canaria 3. Every statement after the 2 nd should allow for the
Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas identification of 1 or 2 organisms
Mosquito Culiseta longiareolata 4. The last pair of statements (ex 5a & 5b) should identify 2
Mushroom Boletus edulis organisms
5. There should be 1 less step than the total # of organisms
Cow Boe Taurus
to be identified in your key (if you have 6 organisms, you
Loblolly pine tree Pinus taeda should have 5 paired statements to identify them all)
Poison ivy Rhus toxicodendron 6. The more similarities the group of organisms has, the more
1. difficulties it is to develop the key. Try to choose
animal go to 2 characteristics that are different to make classifying the
not an animal go to 11 organisms easier.
2.
has wings go to 3 Pegasus, Centaur, Griffin, Dragon, Chimera, Hydra
no wings go to 6 1. Hybrid legs Go to 2
3. Non-hybrid legs Chimera
has feathers go to 4 2. 1 head Go to 3
no feathers culiseta longiareolata Many heads Hydra
4. 3. Hooves Go to 4
flies high go to 5 Claws Go to 5
doesn't fly high Meleagris gallopavo 4. Half horse/ Centaur
5. Half man
often yellow Serinus canaria Full horse Pegasus
not yellow Haliaeetus leucocephalus that can fly
6. 5. Scales Dragon
lives in water go to 9 Feathers Griffin
lives on land go to 7
7. 1. Has wings Go to 2
has fluffy fur go to 8 No wings Go to 3
no fluffy fur Bos Taurus 2. Can fly Go to 4
8. Cant fly Chimera
common pet Canis familiaris 3. Scales Hydra
not a common pet Mephitis mephitis No scales Centaur
9. 4. Feathered wings Go to 5
has fins go to 10 Scaly wings Dragon
no fins Crassostrea gigas 5. Hooved feet Pegasus
10 Clawed feet Griffin
razor sharp teeth Carcharodon carcharias
pegged, pointy Tursiops truncates
teeth
11.
green go to 12
not green go to 13
12.
grows tall Pinus taeda
doesn't grow tall Rhux toxicodendron
13.
can be poisonous Boletus edulis
not poisonous Rosa sylvestris

Steps