Dichotomous Keys

Group AStep Steps of Dichotomous Key Go to Step/organism1 A. Legs are present

B. Legs are not presentStep 2Step 4

2 A. Wings are presentB. Wings are not present

Step 3Step 6

3 A. Lives in hollow trees, chimneys and similar structuresB. Lives wherever there is food

Organism: Hornet

Organism: Housefly4 A. Has a curly tail

B. Has a straight tailOrganism: PigStep 5

5 A. Lives in tropical rainforest areasB. Lives elsewhere

Organism: IguanaOrganism: Salamander

6 A. Makes food using photosynthesisB. Does not use photosynthesis

Step 9Step 7

7 A. It is a unicellular organismB. It is a multicellular organism

Organism: ParameciumOrganism: Step 8

8 A. Certain species suck bloodB. Organism does not suck blood

Organism: LeechOrganism: Mushroom

9 A. Can grow up to 80 m highB. Cannot grow up to 80 m high

Organism: Pine TreeOrganism: Tulip Plant

Group B

Step Step of Dichotomous Key Go to Step/Organism1 A. Wings are present

B. Wings are not presentStep 2Step 4

2 A. Some species suck bloodB. Does not suck blood

Organism: BatStep 3

3 A. Feathers are presentB. Feathers are not present

Organism: Blue JayOrganism: Moth

4 A. Organism can moveB. Organisms cannot move

Step 5Step 8

5 A. Organism is unicellularB. Organism is multicellular

Organism: AmoebaStep 6

6 A. Eats hayB. Does not eat hay

Organism: HorseStep 7

7 A. Lives in waterB. Lives on land

Organism: LampreyOrganism: Earthworm

8 A. Appears on rotting breadB. Appears elsewhere

Organism: Bread MouldStep 9

9 A. Organism is an ingredient for breadB. Organism is not an ingredient

Organism: WheatOrganism: Birch Tree

Group C

Step Step of Dichotomous Key Go to Step/Organism1 A. Organism can move

B. Organism cannot moveStep 2Step 7

2 A. Organism lives in waterB. Organism lives on land

Step 3Step 4

3 A. Organism lives in fresh waterB. Organism lives in the sea

Organism: EuglenaOrganism: Sea anemone

4 A. Organism has legsB. Organism does not have legs

Step 5Organism: Snake

5 A. Organism can flyB. Organism cannot fly

Organism: RobinStep 6

6 A. Organism has antennaeB. Organism does not have antennae

Organism: AntOrganism: Cow

7 A. Organism performs photosynthesisB. Organism does not perform photosynthesis

Step 8Step 9

8 A. Organism grows up to 15 feetB. Organism grows up to 95 metres

Organism: SunflowerOrganism: Spruce Tree

9 A. Organism lives underwaterB. Organism does not live underwater

Organism: StarfishOrganism: Bread Mould

Group D

Step Step of Dichotomous Key Go to Step/Organism1 A. Legs are present Step 2

B. Legs are not present Step 52 A. Organism lives in water

B. Organism lives on landOrganism: Blue WhaleStep 3

3 A. Organism can flyB. Organism cannot fly

Step 4Organism: Prairie dog

4 A. Organism’s race has a queenB. Organism’s race does not have a queen

Organism: WaspOrganism: Beetle

5 A. Organism can moveB. Organism cannot move

Step 6Step 7

6 A. Organism has flagellaB. Organism does not have flagella

Organism: E. coliOrganism: Python

7 A. Organism can live underwaterB. Organism cannot live underwater

Step 8Step 9

8 A. Organism can live on landB. Organism cannot live on land

Organism: MossOrganism: Red algae

9 A. Organism leaves a rashB. Organism does not leave a rash

Organism: Poison IvyOrganism: Dandelion

Group E

Step Step of Dichotomous Key Go to Step/Organism1 A. Wings are present

B. Wings are not presentStep 2Step 5

2 A. Organism can flyB. Organism cannot fly

Organism: PenguinStep 3

3 A. Organism has a beakB. Organism does not have a beak

Step 4Organism: Cricket

4 A. Organism can swimB. Organism cannot swim

Organism: Blue HeronOrganism: Robin

5 A. Organism can moveB. Organism cannot move

Step 6

6 A. Organism lives in waterB. Organism does not live in water

Step 7Step 8

7 A. Organism breathes through blowholeB. Organism does not breathe through blowhole

Organism: Blue WhaleOrganism: Diatom

8 A. Organism has flagella Organism: Paramecium

B. Organism does not have flagella Organism: Porcupine9 A. Organism is a tree

B. Organism is not a treeOrganism: TamarackOrganism: Canola

Group F

Step Step of Dichotomous Key Go to Step/Organism1 A. Legs are present

B. Legs are not presentStep 2Step 8

2 A. Paws are presentB. Paws are not present

Step 3Step 5

3 A. Organism is a herbivoreB. Organism is not a herbivore

Organism: BeaverStep 4

4 A. Organism is an omnivoreB. Organism is a carnivore

Organism: Grizzly bearOrganism: Wolf

5 A. Organism has hoovesB. Organism does not have hooves

Organism: ZebraStep 6

6 A. Organism can flyB. Organism cannot fly

Organism: GrasshopperStep 7

7 A. Organism lives in animal hairB. Organism lives in human head hair

Organism: TickOrganism: Lice

8 A. Organism has rootsB. Organism does not have roots

Step 9Organism: Blue green algae

9 A. Organism is a flowerB. Organism is a tree

Organism: TulipOrganism: Sugar Maple