LESSON 2

Dichotomous key

A dichotomous key is a tool that helps identify unknown organisms to some

taxonomic level (e.g., species, genus, family, etc.). The key is constructed in such a way
that a series of choices is made that leads the user to the correct identity of a sample
organism. "Dichotomous" means, "divided into two parts." Therefore, a dichotomous key
always offer two choices for each step, each of which describes key characteristics of a
particular organism or group of organisms.

Binomial Nomenclature
Early efforts in naming organisms using standard scientific names entailed a
specific description of physical characteristics found in the organisms. As a result, the
name could be more than 15 words long because there were many characteristics that
could describe a single species. Also, different scientists have varying ways to describe
organisms. For example, one person would choose to highlight a particular
characteristic of an organism, and another person would choose another characteristic
to describe that same organism. Thus, there was a need to standardize how organisms
are named.
Thus, Carl Linnaeus (or Carolus Linnaeus) offered the first comprehensive,
consistent, and much simpler method of naming and organizing species, which is now
called binomial nomenclature. The binomial nomenclature is a two-word naming system
used to name a species. In this naming system, each species is assigned a two-part
scientific name, wherein the first letter of the first word is capitalized and the second
word is set in lowercase. For example, the Philippine crocodile, also known as the
Mindoro crocodile, has the scientific name Crocodylus mindorensis.
The first part of the scientific name of the crocodile is Crocodylus. This
represents the genus to which the organism belongs. A genus is a group of closely
related species. The genus Crocodylus includes other kinds of crocodiles including its
extinct species.
The second part of the scientific name of the crocodile is mindorensis. The name
is unique to the species within the genus Crocodylus. This second name is called the
specific epithet. It describes an important trait or the location where the organism lives.
The specific epithet mindorensis means that crocodile was originally found in Mindoro,
Philippines.
Scientific name is sometimes followed by the name of author/scientist who first
gave the scientific name of the species. Different ways are used to name organisms,
such as descriptive names, ecological names, geographical names, and even names
without any definite meaning.
Things to note when creating an organism’s specific epithet:
1. The specific name may portray the organism’s major characteristics or its
common local name.
Ex: common cat (Felis catus). The specific epithet cactus means domesticated
cat
2. The locality, collector, or eminent person can be used in the specific epithet. For
example, Phyllium bonifacio is a leaf insect species foundin the Philippines. It
bears the name of the Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio. This species
is the latest addition to the genus Phyllium, one of the four genera of the family
Phylliidae.
3. The specific epithet may be used to describe some of the characteristics of the
species.
Example: Dendronotus albus scientific name of a sea slug.
Specific epithet albus is a Latin word means “white”
The slug’s scientific name is based on its color.

4. The specific epithet may also be an ecological name or the habitat which the
organism was first observed.
Example: Ixora philippinensis (santan in Philippines). Its specific epithet indicates
that it can be found in Philippines.

Linnaeus's System of Classification

In taxonomy, a group or level of organization is called a taxonomic category, or a
taxon (plural: taxa). Linnaeus's system of classification uses seven taxa, which are
arranged in logical order from the most general (kingdom) to the most specific (species):
kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Figure 9.12 shows the seven
taxonomic categories. In interpreting the taxon hierarchy, the similarity among
organisms is inversely proportional to the number of species. For example, if you go
higher in the Linnaean hierarchy of taxa, expect a decrease in similarities among
organisms, but expect an increase in the number of organisms that belong to that taxon.
On the other hand, if you go lower in the Linnaean hierarchy of taxa, expect an increase
in similarities among organisms, but expect a decrease in the number of organisms in
that taxon.
 FIGURE 9.12
DOMAIN Increase in similarity
Decrease in similarity
Increase in number KINGDOM Decrease in number

PHYLUM
CLASS
ORDER
FAMILY
GENUS
SPECIES

Kingdom
The kingdom is the largest and most inclusive among the Linnaean taxa. During
Linnaeus’s time, he only classified two kingdoms, namely, Kingdom Animalia and
Kingdom Plantae. This taxon has the greatest variety of organisms. Kingdoms deal with
the main division where all organisms on Earth are classified. It includes the following:
eubacteria, archaebacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. The classification of this taxon is
based mainly on structure. Kingdoms consist of different phyla.
Phylum
Kingdoms are made up of different phyla (singular: phylum), Phylum is one of the
major taxa used in classifying organisms. This taxon includes many different organisms
that share important characteristics, which include their body plans. For example,
Phylum Chordata is composed of different organisms with vertebrae. This phylum
consists of one or more similar classes. The word division is a counterpart of phylum,
which is more commonly used in plants.
Class
A class is a subdivision of a phylum. It is a taxon that broadly includes the major
organisms that are distinct from other organisms internally and externally. For example,
Class Mammalia includes animals that are warm-blooded, can produce milk for
their young, and have body hair. A class is composed of similar orders.
Order
An order is a broad taxon composed of a number of similar families. In this taxon,
organisms are generally classified based on their characteristics. Animals are classified
as carnivores, herbivores, or primates.

Family
A family is a taxon that includes one or more genera that share a common
phylogenetic origin. This consists of a number of genera with similar characters. This
designates a category of classification that is fairly precise.

Genus
A genus is a taxon that includes one or more species with common phylogenetic
traits. This is used as the first part of the scientific name.

Species
The species is the basic unit of classification. This is used as the specific epithet
in the scientific name. This taxon is made up of organisms that can both interbreed and
produce fertile offspring.