Taxonomy & Dichotomous Keys

Front

What is taxonomy?

Back

Taxonomy is the science of classifying and naming organisms based on shared characteristics.

Front

What is a dichotomous key?

Back

A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the identification of organisms through a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name.

Front

What are the two parts of a scientific name?

Back

The two parts of a scientific name are the genus name and the species name.

Front

How should a scientific name be formatted?

Back

A scientific name should be italicized, with the genus capitalized and the species in lowercase (e.g., *Felis domesticus*).

Front

What is binomial nomenclature?

Back

Binomial nomenclature is the system of naming organisms using two terms: the genus name and the species name.

Front

What is the purpose of taxonomy?

Back

The purpose of taxonomy is to organize and categorize living organisms to understand their relationships and characteristics.

Front

What is the difference between genus and species?

Back

Genus is a group of closely related species, while species is the most specific level of classification, identifying a single organism.

Front

What is an example of an organism in the class Insecta?

Back

An example of an organism in the class Insecta is a butterfly.

Front

What is an arachnid?

Back

An arachnid is a type of joint-legged invertebrate animal that includes spiders, scorpions, and ticks.

Front

What characteristics define the order Amblypygi?

Back

Amblypygi are characterized by having a flattened body, long legs, and no venomous stinger.