Dichotomous Key Practice

A dichotomous key for trees is provided. Hikers found a tree that has large brown cones and single sharp needles. What species of tree have the hikers found?

• Juniper
• Pine
• Spruce
• Fir

What is the name of bird X?

• Certhidea

• Geospiza

• Camarhynchus

• Platyspiza

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What is the purpose of a dichotomous key?

• to find a common ancestor
• to show the evolution of organisms
• to show relationships between organisms
• to identify organisms

When using a dichotomous key to identify organisms, what do we look at?

• physical features
• weather patterns
• environment
• diet

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

An illustration and a dichotomous key are given. What is the correct classification for this organism?

• Class Insecta
• Order Amblygygi
• Order Araneae
• Order Scorpiones

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Leaf S

• Eastern white pine

• balsam poplar

• sweet gum

• ginko

Using this dichotomous key, identity the name of the circled fish.

• band-tail puffer
• spotted goat fish
• peacock flounder
• trumpet fish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What step do we always start with when using dichotomous keys?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

A botanist discovers a new plant in the jungle. Which of the
following observations of the plant’s characteristics would be useful in determining its identity with a dichotomous key?

• It was discovered in the summertime
• It is wet from a recent rain storm.
• Its leaves curl up on the edges.
• It is eaten by native jungle ants.

A student discovers an arachnid with a segmented abdomen, long legs, and a tail with no stinger.

The student uses the dichotomous key below to identify it.

1. a) Abdomen segmented.............go to 2

b) Abdomen not segmented ......go to 4

2. a) Abdomen with tail....................go to 3

b) Abdomen without tail...............go to 5

3. a) Tail with stinger..........................Scorpion

b) Tail without stinger.....................Whip scorpion

4. a) Legs longer than body.............Daddy Long Legs

b) Legs not longer than body……….Wind scorpion

5. a) Covered with spines .......................Mite

b) Few spines.....................................Tick

• Whip Scorpion

• Daddy Long Legs

• Mite

• Tick

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2