IDENTIFICATION Identification of the great diversity of living organisms around usisa challenging task that calls for a high level of professional ining and infrastructure. The purpose of identification = determine what kind of organism a given spedm= Is have become so much diversi‘ied and comple: 's and activities that the identification of @ s' easily done only in a few well-known group’ irds and butterflies and that too in certain P . The reliable identification is very difficult in animal kingdom and more so in case of isl It is quite possible for students and teache™ acquire the competence to properly identity it in their own locality, given adequate support rature and given the motivation to acquire of ‘identification may vary according eo a _ The professional worker would like #0 a level. The non-systematist requires the ™ Scanned with CamScannerwee ~gme fundamental aspect of oe iM Sologist requires the name led rinent literature regal jot Petrol measures. All the priate slog) enetic ey, physiolORY, Benetcs, biochem, A eyephOlOBY m would be esentaty 2 eof at OFBaN Mf “Iggg beneficial if was not published ay py Ro use of taining to, ies in addition to using got jematist 0 6 the specie erature anda category for data eae ee im Mganism t0 species OF at least to the print nts Sef 2 pat the specimen (Or specimens) hei pron wnat is an undescribed ‘new species’. Further fn pitton of a specimen must necessarily precede pa igen this specimen into a scheme of classification. Thus, aig mie practice there is no sharp distinction between gektaon and classification. The classification always vjentifcation and the identification may lead to ssifon and improvement of the latter. For purposeful serjaton itis necessary to have knowledge of taxonomic Bois in general, the characters and current terminology, Eu study techniques, pertinent literature, the natural ‘ny and comparative zoology of the group. Pn METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION als are collected they are first sorted out and ly identified up to order, family or if possib& men this is done, the collection is ready "© fe specialist for precise identification, There ferent. methods employed for identins Surprisingly all the methods ate important methods used in iden fiHSNS Scanned with CamScanner— - Fromliterature asic function of an ident if i Linkin published descriptions of the mpc,‘ wr tious task involving hundreds and thousang 2 comparisons. ‘There is need to skip over et great bulk of oorp ari are not closely similar to the specimen ya iP peing identified. This is further facilitated if the keys 1 available in the group. tifier is to compare the gpe«, Keys Thisisoneofthemost commonly used methods ofidentification, Akey is essentially a printed information-retrieval system int which one puts information regarding a specimen-in-hand and from which one gets an identification of the specimen ty whatever level the key is designed to reach. In the absence of the originally identified specimens of the species utilised for comparisons, the published description becomes the only tool. In larger groups with many species, it is the most tedious task to compare specimens with hundreds or thousands of published descriptions. This task can be solved if the keys to the main group are available. The main purpose of the key isto ilitate identification. Thus, the construction of the keys isan t job of a systematist. It is a tabular device designed id identification, and based on the most convenient which are usually arranged dichotomously. It i tematic framework for zoological classification with \ce of classes at each level, of which the more restr are formed by the overlap of two or more classes at th ‘er level; its preparation requires a thorough analyss xonomic characters and then the best possible stabl? 8 are selected and arranged. jood key is strictly dichotomous, not having mo alternatives at any point. The language of the Ke! ¢ and telegraphic like that of taxonomic descriptio”® rases in each alternative primary characters pce for completing the couplet. This makes casy. Without the logic and simplicity any good zoology students would not! ‘Scanned with CamScannerto follow the same an, — id ten 18 Bet lost. Me, tien 181 ale rn of species aro jude rund us inj anderstandable for the i nimposnbie a8 ny yower tax tification wn large Sifferent Keys are construc both highs ct ough Keys are good and fed for di Tigh regard to their use, A key may, yet teen eB ones. Moreover, eveven adults ate yenot work for females, The ns adults rae ‘aly male and female specimens eons o's Sian Fhe keys concerning either of Toa identiied soem hen hey fails to give any clue fo to Even the absence ‘sbove ail most Keys are Beet dwarfs, terata, or renee peomes extremely dificult in so on trivial charac, ei the ey up to faanily level lnaving sia seca tthe lowest category, the specie leaving aside identcatin 2: Jie motomons keys becomes m level The problem with Bene Cine ee nla ene ey area inexperienced user very frustrating : This can make an couplets which never seem really i while runing tough st hand. If the user is attempting to apply tothe specimens tr included in the Key, itis eel lentify a taxon which is merit litle dfficalty. Most users aon hee bad a .ce of arriving at is i Bs neither pares couplet ina lng key onfy is ea lot to be done in improving the earlier vs, especially in the light of more and moss wwered continuously. Many of the above mentioned can be avoided in selecting key characters through srpretation of character states become’ ‘unambiguous ny specimens as possible. Ttis also now underste ‘dichotomous key which embodies hypotheses of c relationship will be more useful De entfcation Keystoe se reference to the most conspicuous and least variable can certainly be done by the computers. Hall a 971), Watson and Mine (1972) 2 Dalvie (27) computers for selecting the carat ‘ 1em in dichotomous Keys. al be printed in the conventional ‘pracketed S17!° and poses, Scanned with CamScannerthe structure gf | snich display: f | rm which cies can be detected, "hy by Newell (1970, 1972) e new speci | key has many advantages | | f tabular Key atternate to the dichotomors i to the user. Jo its designer and “i to eparater mate \ th character states coded for each er mati wc of missing data can also be ovr oie sertprovided that sufficient data are avaiah,’® ther que combination of character states. When gy | provide a unig to be represented 19 a single mati, g group ee provides entry points to subsequent tabs Jr na groupes are treated. Such a key may also er, The presumed phylogenetic structure of a Group, $0 that i iguousorincorrect result may still providesome indica, ambien relationships of the material. Wooley and Str, (1987) gave a good account of computer based programms (oe identification of organisms. Morse (1974) and Pankhus, (1978) presented overviews of several approaches to the Sevelopment of computerised identification devices. Somect such approaches are briefly discussed below: Ttis essentially a group | Monothetic Character Set Matching Method e the user essentially inputs a complete vector of characte! tes for an unknown. The programme then uses a tale cup procedure to search for an exact match in @ characte ‘Vector for a known taxon. Whatever logical possible mbinationsofcharacterscould be drawn, all mustbeindst ‘able even though several character state vectors PF 4 particular taxon. This : ae sah le charactor. This method is polythetic in a way lyclave Ide nti tiple Entry pie Procedures or ‘aft’ acess to a data file continis§ | Served chen character state vectors. The user character states in any order. On °°) a (ated searches the data file and ate ther than observed character S# Scanned with CamScanner~ aition, after each d, addition, @ n data entry in feta Tist of possible taxa remy “erful 001 tor an experienced 4 2 ee ‘or unusual character st ne f z © Progra ny ates nan ny online Key 4, was proposed by Wilson and p, eension of polyclave methods in whey gre made by the programmer to optiny d dharacter state input by the user. Here weighted in their programme represent criteria for optimal disc (1986) and ig erate attem, the seu a ere the characters are Seven formulae which ation oF ease of use, online 3 Identification Programme twas used by Pankhurst and Aitchinson (1975) (1984). Here a single criterion (Grjllenbenre eye umber) is used to provide optimised character selection in a polyclave format. Similar to other online keys, this programme provides the ability to check a presumed taxon against the database, using an algorithm to determine an optimised order racter state input. With the use of additional options, the able to retrieve the information already entered for an mand to determine the character states differentiating own from a known taxon. The characters are used 3s ir merit (je. from its separating power) and also partly “weight” but finaly the decision rests with the expert se, the user is free to choose any character a5 P&E terms of merit. sebbe, 1984; ar to ONLINE 3 (Lebbe, 1 ide to very. XPER iS sytem and 10 int origin and is simil et al, 1986). Here the user is ma" ‘acter state in response '0 - e iblic in France through MINIT™ tion. ae som tohave for mushroom identifica i famines would ave and online PB eft Scanned with CamScanner‘Theory and Practke O — shifts the burden of character gy. including algorithms for chant it ilability of database may ion. Thus, with the availabl! t os sare any. systematist (using 2 microcomputey™* somstruct monothetic key devices. : : ett puterised Keys are sill n their experimental, and available only for a fraction of animal oF plant king and aviig ail considered better to confine the identifica, only with the help of traditional keys which are di below: | 184 discrimination, th to the programme e latter Types of Keys ‘These days different kinds of keys are used in taxononi works. All are dichotomous and based on a series of choices, Some of the most important ones are : i. Indented key i. Simple non-bracket key ‘Simple bracket key iv. Grouped type-key v. Combination key i. Pictorial key i. Branching ks For special purposes i. Cireular key eee . Box type key ted Key Fe roe akey are indented from the left hand mars re con, 22 38 such a way as to show their importance Thus the le eeymore members of the primary couplets are Mo leaving foun or fBit the secondary couplet is indented Of spaces beyonce SPaces the tertiary with equal ‘number key. This type of keg eeodaty and so on, to the end of relationship of cute, 8 Advantageous in the sense that and can be used in sa {ivisions is quite apparent to the a right, But in long kes 28 When the key is short it work ee cd the alternatives get widely separa? Paratiee pa scrwes Bood purpose for keys }parative keys, An example of such a ‘YP Scanned with CamScanner4. Wing al band dilated apically C. Seutellar bristles 1 pa Cc. Scutellar bristles 2 pairs, gp. costal band not dilated apcaly Thorax with median yellow strip, CC. Thorax without middle stripe, wings mostly opaque 5. Wings with stripes C. Scutellum with 5 black spots.. BB. Wings reticulate C. Posterior margin of wings with 3 hyaline spots TTephraciura xanthotrcha CC. Posterior margin of wings with 5 hyaline sports. ‘Spatulinaacrolewea Non-bracket Key is also often used. The couplets are composed of for ready comparison. The specimens to be are run through this key forward. It can be used rards but gives slight inconvenience in acing he run of the characters to be compared. An example key is given below: Scanned with CamScannerof Animal Taxonomy and Biodiversity ‘Theory ond Practice Simple Bracket Key 1+ is similar to the preceding one except that the mumben the couplets showing the continuation in the ey are gj," ih parentheses after the main numbers. When prog, conutrucied one can quickly and easily run through the; both forward and backward This is he best hy in ui! its diagnostic . The main disadvantage in both i? typesis that the relationship ofthe divisions is not pean the eye like indented key. This is a commonly used key by i present day taxonomists. A similar example of this type of ke is given below: 5 L 20 2 @ 42 = a nay cup eB One. In this the fst men couplets at UP” and the secoudary,tetiar’ the rst meant’ beneath it and bell, Of the pri of the primary couplet. Primary cruplet fs then labelled § Scanned with CamScannerand, NB? the secondary, tertiary, and su and 7 bse tna in sequence UNdET i The fig eT coup) ed 1. with 8in parentheses, nye ™2Y coup, jenna member of the couplet, the location ied 2, with 2 4 and 5 in parentheses, and 3 js labelled 3 and 6 and 7 in parentheses, gt Fambering the couplets may be used," ther yey has the advantage that the such J. Itiseconomical of space asthe en Sa eel rend ‘margins Under A would bo a ea re peaty indented, couplets # and BB, Under 6, i heen vinta and CC, and 9 on forthe other prinag sec td tertiary couple Unde Car CC; he py renition or grouped ce wg secondary and tetlary groups coneplewcus, the cial beyond those of tertlary rank are arranged in juxtape 4 Inger deen love eter otha hy be rly compared. Such a ey ha, of course, somes sift ana Hntatene of the indented key and ay with the couplets in simple non-bracket key, ‘A. Wing mostly hyaline 1B, Coptal band dilated apically 1. Seutellar bristles 1 pair. 1, Scutellar bristles 2 pai 18, Costal band not dilated apically 1. Thorax with median yellow stripe... B. dena 1. Thorax without median stripe sevu.. B. doris AA. Wings mostly opaque 5. Wings with stripes 1. Seutellum with 5 black spots . V. Scutellum with 4 black spot BB. Wings Teticulate i Posterior margin of wings with 3 hyali . cururbite B. tay . C. esueians LC. zieyphae spots, anthotrits Ww Posterior Margin of wit A ith 5. hyali pots, i a .$, aero! torlal Key 6 bey In also o hed 2 of sigeiicance. 1 ig especially meant for fel? "taxonomists who car identify the common! With the help of characters together withthe rative manner. There are several such #2 crane ch a key for the separatio" 'own in Fig, 69, Scanned with CamScanner(erm) ae & po wouboe os: casey om =| sepeom se arse om Eos ares pue wn oun rou e079 ens ‘ popunar spn UBreW! foe ywyop um Bre! APO ‘Saag Tear Gey Scanned with CamScanneroe — nn pg age z oN yop Ardeap wasoid an0016 we Anubis ounsipuy oncos6 ‘90x09 0105 Puy reve pue suooyses ‘2x02 210) puy Bue “su091¢9) On (pp On DIVBSLUTED ‘80 padojanap jm, wosge 40 juosa:d suoorsay ‘suoo}se) jeuLoU nimidoo aseE, “poonpoud Ajev9ye) unjdeo siseg So! E 2 seinen Se ‘syeshydetioes,“B9 poonposd yeuuou “hywsaye| woubas yedied puz, wowBos jedjed puz a Scanned with CamScannersecre eee easy and quick separation of “ing! ne meant for mall. Itis quite useful for fj the spe eld workers isa? “group is small. | ft atts tye is given in Fig. 70, et o go meant f0¥ small BFOUP. Its also qui yecialists, especially field aan atte Prediate identification of comment oe ne exaraple of this type is given in Fig Me ae ding t ke it ls OP ecg two Keys it i also meant for field st etl for quick identification of me Peta! 2S an example is given in Fig. 72. Tough Pictures ristanother easy method of identification in which pitures ie form of colour plates, black and white photographs, or edawings are used. There are few animal groups = which al the species can be identified from the pictures, iy if arranged in atlases showing all the forms. The ‘may represent the entire organisms or parts of These pictures are often used in combination ‘The pictorial keys, as discussed above consist of butterflies are quite favourable for theit i coloured pictures (Fig: 73)- Comparison apse of the best means [0 identity mn sete pest ture on a species is NO Coa ith ta oF uw it we cetty Scanned with CamScanner4 andPracie of Arial ONO an Beng “oy adhy-Buiypuesg ‘04 “O14 " enbeao ouyeny Scanned with CamScanner ‘Aysow s6um, ‘Ansous s6um, [ | sedins Aeusde paren ‘Ayeorde pareup semanas SOU, am sul Jou pueg je\s09 ueg e809 i 1 [ A 1 if ods ouekYS sqods aumekye Siods RIG y sjods Hoe! —eduIs o}ses0M dis WEI —wunyaynas _wnyeNn9s UO ca ‘au Buy ny tym uejpow — -ew moyek uo. >Dulewssod yo ulbewrisog — winyieineg = winjiaanog Penge §—“ eyoujouuex —seudazr_——euianson s zi =O 2Fig, 71 Crculartype key. fany level. This method involvesa highly technica! are siderable background of krowlede and in the group. It is, therefore, not always advisable ‘dentiieation solely based on COMPO he lectins without haying the of tion. This is possible with a dv en pecimens are the most authe fall ‘of great value, their use fo The original verbal mens are the per Such descr only origina not available scanned with CanYScannerhoy odhy von ee “Bug auneky Apsour Bunyq, CamScanner Sum ‘mouteu pueq [eyso> nods auneay aduys adins odins weipaut uerpaut ops snouts | moran pio xeI0uL wong} g eipusoynuns ards > ‘uyjansoa > ns0p ag Scanned withred pict tion ofbuttertes fom tel COONS! Fen tigen; 2. . tor (chestnut tide) ger (all 2. “ysippes (30 a 8 vnc nd “eal PP ent Scanned with CamScanner—S—lLUrUr™é~<“(~:*~™—CO——C;:;:* 4 Combination of Methods om tion of all or many of these methods ; in the identification by both the Specials" » gpecialists, The best and safest way of identification <4 io nas of the group in question, he is in the best position to maje of the highly specialised keys, original descriptions, ang specimens. The combinal often utilised in ie PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN IDENTIFICATION ‘All these methods discussed above are not easily folloved arg worked out. One faces many problems when attempting identify the specimens. Some of these are mentioned below: i. Although keys are useful for identification, these may have several drawbacks including failure to includette organisms being identified; failure to include the stge or sex of the organisms being identified; and fale to take into account any of a large number of possi variations in the morphology or other characters ued. fi, Pictures, too, can be misleading if not clear at accurate. These may result in wrong, identification # the species of the organisms being identified resembe the one depicted. iii, Verbal descriptions of the species may be ambiguo’ Particularly when such characters as colour and textu* are described. It is also necessary to have exters* knowledge of terminology in a particular group. descriptions of type specimens are often in old, obs journals which are not easily accessible and more a foreign language, a oe Comparison with the already identified spe" idan? Nt easy. Such specimens of a group not always available, and ever 4 82. Tot contain specimens of the same P= Benus or family as the specimen being ide" 0 ver i i e for cautcult oF impossible to obtalt ty 4, “Parison; sometimes they are collection may ( Scanned with CamScanneray ve or may Never have existed, j ei all the problem of getting thee’ fe dows, fe since he may be residing 9, -Peimets jorid. Although the specialist Work! Pat of «tins are quite competent in the iden 2% iy the enormous facilites at ther diopencation a sometime’ up to two years in commune a er Wntfcations even though it may be x iat he Mfed. Moreover, there is presently extreme shone, retpyonomic specialists in many animal gros ie some no spec available at all ] 4 cAB, London (through CAB Internationa Instste tf Entomology) has even started charging heavily for \dentification service which was earlier free of cost. ot NOS Tau ties are also faced in consys + ification. Sometimen seca Pert may ~ aan oo | NDING INSECTS AND OTHER ARTHROPODS SYMAIL of the identifications are done by specialists working ‘institutions or museums. In either case they have to be mail. Many times the insects are destroyed in sans faulty packing. It is, therefore, necessary to P= ‘mount ige them properly in a strong box to ensure their to the specialists. Some big museums also distribute s containing instructions for proper mounting 28 of various animals before they a re en edo tion, Some of the important tips are went ch if followed, will certainly minimise in transit, 1a insets should be correct, ea ed. These should then be Kept! Cry howl ize according to requiremen®) (1 7A) oho the that the cork sheet is thick ae cute firmly attached 10 Ne POT on ithe : be sure ir jd theit POS ye mou pins to avoid oa te Scanned with CamScanner