Activity # 4

Use and Construction of Dichotomous Key for Animals

In systematics, organisms are organized by classifying them based on shared

characteristics. Having a classification system for organisms is important when trying to
investigate common ancestry and also to have a common understanding among scientists
worldwide.

A dichotomous key is a biological tool for identifying unknown organisms to some

taxonomic level (e.g., species, genus, family, etc.). It is constructed of a series of couplets, each
consisting of two contrasting statements describing characteristics of a particular organism or
group of organisms. A choice between the two statements, often opposites (present/absent), is
made that best fits the organism in question. The statements typically begin with broad
characteristics and become narrower as more choices are required. It helps you identify
organisms based on a series of statements that are organized in pairs (Di = two and there are two
choices at each splitting of groups) over and over again until you only have one organism in a
group.

In constructing a dichotomous key, a pair of contrasting statements, is set as a working

key that leads the user to the correct identification. 

In this activity, you will be use and construct a dichotomous key.

Objectives:

1. Identify hypothetical specimens using a given dichotomous key.

2. Construct a dichotomous tree using 10 specimens.
3. Construct the dichotomous key from the dichotomous tree.
4. Describe each of the specimen.
5. Use the dichotomous key constructed by other groups in identifying their specimens
And describe the specimens.

Materials:

10 different animals
stereoscope
dichotomous key & specimen of other group

Procedure:

A. Use of dichotomous key

1. Pick one specimen at a time.
2. Read and consider the two (di) choices from the key.
3. Understand the meaning of the words used in each choice, otherwise, look for its meaning
before you proceed. When there are measurements in the choices, use the appropriate
 measuring tools. Do not approximate and do not guess.
4. Choose the couplet closest to the character of the specimen.
5. Proceed to the next couplets until the specimen is identified.
6. Describe the specimen using the given dichotomous key starting couplet.

An illustration:

Given the 8 hypothetical creatures, identify each using the given dichotomous key.

Figure 1. Hypothetical creatures

Dichotomous key for the identification of the hypothetical creatures

1. a) presence of antennae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
b) absence of antennae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . ..7

2. a) presence of one antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

b) presence of more than one antennae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3. a) presence of one eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgia

(Specimen 7)
b) presence of two eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Florida
(Specimen 6)

4. a)presence of two antennae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

b). presence of three antennae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hale
(Specimen 8)

5. a) presence of hair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alyana

(Specimen 1)
b) absence of hair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
6. a) presence of chin hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Empire
(Specimen 5)
b) absence of chin hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dyna
(Specimen 4)

7. a) roundish mouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bea (Specimen

2)
b) V-shaped mouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Catriona
(Specimen 3)

Descriptions: (Relative to the 8 creatures)

Creature A: Possess two pairs of antenna, with one eye, without chin hairs, and rounded mouth.
Creature B: Lacks antennae, possess 2 eyes, no hairs, with rounded mouth.
Creature C: Lacks antennae and hairs, with V-shaped mouth.
Creature D: Possess two antennae and no hairs, with rounded mouth.
Creature E: Possess 1 pair of antennae, one pair of eyes, lacks hairs and with roundish mouth.
Creature F: Possess a single antenna, 1 pair of eyes, lacks hairs, with roundish mouth.
Creature G: Possess a single antenna, single eye, no hairs, with roundish mouth.
Creature H: Possess three antennae, two eyes, lacks hairs, with roundish mouth.

B. Construction of Dichotomous Tree

1. Construct a dichotomous tree using the 8 hypothetical creatures.
2. Group the animals into two using general morphoanatomical characters that reflect
homologous
similarities.
3. Regroup each group into two groups using opposing or contrasting states of the character.
Example, bilateral symmetry and radial symmetry. If this is not applicable because all of the
four body symmetries are possessed by the animals in the group, use the opposite of bilateral,
non-bilateral where all of animals which do not have bilateral symmetry can belong.
4. Continue regrouping until the most specific character states.
5. Write the names or a designated specimen number (if common name is not known) for each
species inside the box and the character on top of the box.
5. Continue to break each group down by characteristics one at a time until each of the specimen
is singled out. Use the characters used by taxonomists to identify the taxonomic level from
Kingdom to species. Specific observable morphoanatomical characters of an organism are
usually used for animals belonging to the same genus and species.
6. Number the dichotomous character you use to group the animals into two from the beginning
to the end of the tree. The two character states become 1a and 1b. The next character states
become 2a and 2b, etc.

Things to Remember:
a) Start from general character states. c) Work with one sub-group at a time.
b) Keep the descriptions simple.
 With soft-bodies
Specimens A, B, C, D, E, E,
G, H

1a. Presence of antenna 1b.

Absence of antenna

A, D, E, F, G, B, C
H,

2a. With 1 antenna 2b. With more than 1 antennae 7a.Roundish mouth 7b. V-
shaped mouth

F, G A, D, E, BEA CATRIO
G H NA
3a. presence of single eye 3b. Presence of two eyes
4a. Presence of 2 antennae 4b. Presence of 3 antennae

A, D, HAL
GEORG FLORI E E

5a. Presence of hair 5b. Absence of hair

Dyna, Empire
ALYA
NA

6a. Presence of chin hair 6b. Absence of chin hair

\ EMPI DYN
RE A
C. Construction of Dichotomous Key

Steps:

1. Use the character states you use to divide organisms up into two categories in your
dichotomous
tree. These two categories will become 1a and 1b. Example:
1a………………………… Go to 2
1b………………………… Go to 3
2. The second step (2a and 2b) needs to consist of a pair of contrasting character states that will
allow division of the specimens into 2 groups .
3. Every character state after the second should allow for the identification of one or two
specimens.
4. The last pair of character states (ex. 5a and 5b) should identify the last two specimens.
5. There should be one less step than the total number of specimens to be identified in your
key (if you have 6 organisms, you should have 5 paired character states to identify them all).
6. The more similarities the group of organisms has, the more that you have to examine very well
the character states that are similar that will put the organisms into one group and the
opposing
or contrasting character states of the organisms that will differentiate it from the other group.

REFER TO DICHOTOMOUS KEY FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE HYPOTHETICAL

CREATURES.

Procedure:
1. Construct a dichotomous tree for the 10 specimens.

Procedure:
1. Construct a dichotomous tree for the 10 specimens.

Legend:

A = Frog
B = Butterfly
C = Turtle
D = Lizard
E = Bird
F = Snake
G = Grasshopper
H = Dog
I = Cat
J = Ant
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 KINGDOM ANIMALIA

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J 9a. Porous 9b. Non-

Skin Porous Skin

1a. Presence of
Limbs
A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, J

2b. Don’t have moist

2a. Moist Skin
skin

C, D

3a. Presence 3b. Absence of 4a. Presence of

of Shell Shell wings

5a. Presence
of Antennae

6a. Presence 6b. Absence 7a. Presence

of Scales of Scales of Fur

B J
 1b. Absence of
Limbs

A, B, E, G, H, I, J

4b. Absence of
Wings
C D B, E, G, J H

5b. Absence
of Antennae
B, G, J E, I

7b. Absence
of Fur
A, E, G
I
8a. Presence 8b. Absence
of Beak of Beak
A, G
CFigure 1. Dichotomous tree for the 10 specimens E

A G
2. Construct a dichotomous key based on the dichotomous tree for 10 specimens.

1a. Presence of limbs ………………..….….Go to 2

1b. Absence of limbs …………………….…Snake

2a. Moist Skin ……………………………...Go to 3

2b. Don’t have moist skin ………………….Go to 4

3a. Presence of shell ……………………….. Turtle

3b. Absence of shell ………………………. Lizard

4a. Presence of wings …………………….…Go to 5

4b. Absence of wings………………………...Dog

5a. Presence of Antennae …….…………..… Go to 6

5b. Absence of Antennae ……………………Go to 7

6a. Presence of Scales………………………..Butterfly

6b. Absence of Scales……………………….. Ant

7a. Presence of Fur ………………………….. Cat

7b. Absence of Fur……………….……………Go to 8

8a. Presence of Beak …………………………..Bird

8b. Absence of Beak………………………….. Go to 9

9a. Porous skin ………………………..……….. Frog

9b. Non-porous skin…………………………….. Grasshopper
3. Provide descriptions for each of the specimens.

Descriptions: (Relative to the 10 specimens)

Frog: Presence of limbs, without wings, have moist skin.

Butterfly: Presence of limbs, possess wings, with antennae and have scales.
Turtle: Presence of limbs, have moist skin, with beaks, porous, have scales, and have shell.
Lizard: Presence of limbs, have moist skin, not porous.
Bird: Presence of limbs, with wings, with beaks.
Snake: Lacks limbs, have scales.
Grasshopper: Presence of limbs, possess antennae, porous.
Dog: Presence of limbs, furry body.
Cat: Presence of limbs, furry body.
Ants: Presence of limbs, not porous, possess antennae.

Questions:

1. What is the purpose of dichotomous key?

 The purpose of a Dichotomous key is to properly identify and classify the type of
a certain species and the dichotomous key is an important scientific tool because
as stated recently that it is used to identify different organisms, based the
organism's observable traits and Dichotomous keys consist of a series of
statements with two choices in each step that will lead users to the correct
identification

2. Why is this key called dichotomous key?

 The name comes from the Greek word “di” for “two” and “tome” for “cutting
instrument.” As the name suggests, a dichotomous key arrives at the answer to
species identification by presenting a series of questions with two possible
answers and the name is derived from what it does, provides the instructions (key)
for separating organisms into two groups and then subdividing those groups into
two until only one organism is left in the group.

3. Is it possible to create more than one dichotomous key for classifying and
identifying the same group of organisms?

 Yes, it if possible to create more than one dichotomous key because in classifying
and identifying an organism it has a lot of characteristics which makes them
unique. That's why in creating a dichotomous key we can choose the different
characteristics to end up have more than one dichotomous key.
4. When 2 people use the same dichotomous key to identify the same specimens, is it
possible for them to have different final answers? Why?

 If two different people use the same dichotomous key, they should get
the same results. Because dichotomous keys should be specific enough so that
anyone could identify the same specimen or object and get the same final results.
If they get different results, this will indicate differences in their interpretation of
the organism or the specimen

5. Why are classification and identification important?

 Classifying animals can be much important for the reason that It enables
researchers and scientists to classify, group, and properly name organisms using a
standardized framework based on similarities found in the organism's DNA or
RNA (genetics), adaptations (evolution), and embryonic development
(Embryology) to other established organisms for the purpose of better studying
and understanding the new organisms as a whole.
References:
https://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/dichotomous-key.htm
%23:~:text%3DA%2520dichotomous%2520key%2520is%2520an,users%2520to%2520the
%2520correct
%2520identification.&ved=2ahUKEwjlrru3rLHvAhUNGKYKHfwfDPMQFjABegQIARAF&us
g=AOvVaw0kJ_QtOGLhDKDGFVkHC5LW
https://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://biologydictionary.net/dichotomous-key/%23:~:text
%3DThe%2520name%2520comes%2520from%2520the,questions%2520with%2520two
%2520possible
%2520answers.&ved=2ahUKEwjdj8eirbHvAhUSBKYKHeBIBIEQFjABegQIARAF&usg=AO
vVaw3C0AOn-MEVg_F7DvnY0pCp