A dichotomous key is a classification tool used to identify organisms based on morphological or behavioral characteristics. Individual C is a Roundus tricurlus.
What is a dichotomous key?
A dichotomous key is a significantly useful tool to classify organisms.
If you have an organism -or part of it- and you need to taxonomically identify it, you use a dichotomous key.
The key provides an easy and fast way for identification by describing different morphological or behavioral traits, leading you to the correct taxonomic classification.
The term dichotomous refers to how information is provided.
You will always have two options per feature (a and b, or 1 and 2), and you will have to choose one of them according to the characteristics of your organism.
Once you choose one of the options according to your organism, the key leads you to the following description, and you will have to choose one of the options again.
You will repeat this until you reach the name of your organism.
The key describes only specific traits that are useful for differentiation.
In the exposed example, for instance, we need to know the name of the individual C.
The first description is about the head size. The key asks you if the individual has a small or a large head. It has a small head, so the key tells you to move to description 2.
1a. Has a small head--------------------------- go to 2
1b. Has a large head--------------------------- go to 3
The second description is about the body shape. The key asks you if your organism has a narrow or a rounded body. And this individual has a rounded body, so the key tells you to move to description 7.
2a. Has a narrow body ------------------------ go to 6
2b. Has a round body -------------------------- go to 7
The seventh description is about antennae. Does your individual have curly or straight antennae? It has curly antennae. You have reached your organism's name. It is a Roundus tricurlus.
7a. Has a curly anteanne ------------------------ Roundus tricurlus
7b. Has a straight antennae--------------------- go to 8
Individual C is a Roundus tricurlus.
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