Classification

Dichotomous Keys

Dichotomous Key for conifers

Introduction

A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the

user to determine the identity of organisms
in the natural world, such as trees,
wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and
fish.
"Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts".
Therefore, dichotomous keys always give
two choices in each step.

1. a. wings covered by an exoskeleton go to step 2

b. wings freely observed Go to step 3
2. a. body has a round shape .ladybug a red beetle
with black spots
b. body has an elongated shape .grasshopper a
green insect that hops
3. a. wings point out from the side of the body
.dragonfly an insect that is 10- 15 cm long and
lives in marshes
b. wings point to the posterior of the body .housefly
a flying insect with red eyes and an annoying buzz

Hints:

Use constant characteristics rather than variable ones.

(Flowers change with the seasons)
Use measurements in centimeters or meters rather than
terms like "large" and "small".
If possible, start both choices of a pair with the same word.
NOTE: Finish the dichotomous key with a description of the
organism

This key is not a dichotomous key

Species of Organisms
are an estimated 3 to
There
100 million species of

organisms (most agree with 11

million)
This is only 5% of all
organisms that ever lived!!!!!
New organisms are still being
found and identified

What is Classification?
Classification is the
arrangement of organisms into
orderly groups based on their
similarities
Classification is also known as
taxonomy
Taxonomists are scientists that
identify & name organisms
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Benefits of Classifying

Accurately & uniformly names

organisms
Prevents misnomers such as
starfish & jellyfish that aren't
really fish
Uses same language (Latin or
some Greek) for all names

Seahorse??

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Confusion in Using Different

Languages for Names

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Latin Names are Understood by

all Taxonomists

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Early Taxonomists
2000 years ago,
Aristotle
was the first

taxonomist
Aristotle divided
organisms into plants &
animals
He subdivided them
by their habitat
---land, sea, or air
dwellers

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Early Taxonomists

Ray, a
John
botanist, was

the first to use

Latin for naming
His names were
very long
descriptions
telling
everything
about the plant

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Carolus Linnaeus

1707 1778

18th century
taxonomist
Classified
organisms by
their structure
Developed
naming system
still used
today
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Carolus Linnaeus

Called the Father of

Taxonomy
Developed the modern
system of naming known
as binomial nomenclature
Two-word name (Genus &
species)

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Standardized Naming

Binomial
nomenclature used
Genus species
Latin or Greek
Italicized in print
Capitalize Genus,
but NOT species
Underline when
writing

Turdus migratorius

American Robin
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Binomial Nomenclature

Which TWO are more closely related?

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Rules for Naming Organisms

The International Code for

Binomial Nomenclature contains
the rules for naming organisms
All names must be approved by
International Naming Congresses
(International Zoological
Congress)
This prevents duplicated names

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Classification Groups
( taxa-plural) is a
Taxon
category into which related

organisms are placed

There is a hierarchy of groups
(taxa) from broadest to most
specific
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class,
Order, Family, Genus, species

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Hierarchy-Taxonomic Groups
Most BROAD TAXON
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum (Division used for plants)
Class
Order
Family

Genus
Species

Most
Specific

21

Dumb
King
Phillip
Came
Over
For
Gooseberry
Soup!
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Domains

Broadest, most inclusive taxon

Three domains
Archaea
and
Eubacteria
are
unicellular prokaryotes (no

nucleus or membrane-bound
organelles)
Eukarya are more complex and
have a nucleus and membranebound organelles
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ARCHAEA
Probably the 1st cells to evolve
Live in HARSH environments
Found in:

Sewage Treatment Plants

Thermal or Volcanic Vents
Hot Springs or Geysers that are
acid
Very salty water (Dead Sea;
Great
Salt Lake)

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ARCHAEAN

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EUBACTERIA
Some may cause DISEASE
Found in ALL HABITATS except
harsh ones
Important decomposers for
environment
Commercially important in making
cottage cheese, yogurt,
buttermilk, etc.

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Live in the intestines of animals

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Domain Eukarya is Divided

into Kingdoms

Protista (protozoans, algae)

Fungi (mushrooms, yeasts )
Plantae (multicellular plants)
Animalia (multicellular animals)

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Protista

Most are unicellular

Some are
multicellular
Some are
autotrophic
, while
others are
heterotrophic
Aquatic

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Fungi
Multicellular,
except yeast
Absorptive
heterotrophs
(digest food
outside their
body & then
absorb it)
Cell walls
made of chitin
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Plantae

Multicellular
Autotrophic
Absorb sunlight to
make glucose
Photosynthesis

Cell walls made of

cellulose

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Animalia

Multicellular
Ingestive
heterotrophs
(consume food
& digest it
inside their
bodies)
Feed on plants
or animals

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Taxons

Most genera contain a

number of similar species
The genus Homo is an
exception (only contains
modern humans)
Classification is based on
evolutionary relationships

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Basis for Modern Taxonomy

Homologous structures (same

structure, different
function)
Similar embryo development
Molecular Similarity in DNA,
RNA, or amino acid sequence
of Proteins

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Homologous Structures (BONES in the FORELIMBS) shows

Similarities in mammals.

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Similarities in Vertebrate
Embryos

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Cladogram

Diagram showing how organisms are related

based on shared, derived characteristics
such as feathers, hair, or scales

41

Primate
Cladogram
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Dichotomous Keying

Used to identify organisms

Characteristics given in
pairs
Read both characteristics
and either go to another
set of characteristics OR
identify the organism

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Example of Dichotomous Key

1a
1b
2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b

Tentacles present Go to 2
Tentacles absent Go to 3
Eight Tentacles Octopus
More than 8 tentacles 3
Tentacles hang down go to 4
Tentacles uprightSea Anemone
Balloon-shaped bodyJellyfish
Body NOT balloon-shaped - 5

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