Dichotomous Keys

Dichotomous Keys are classification keys used to categorize species. Each step of a dichotomous key has two
choices. You move down the key, making choices, until there are no more to make.
Dichotomous keys are either in written (tabular) form or in branching form.

Below are two examples of how you could use a dichotomous key to determine the
name of this organism.

.
Branching Dichotomous Key Written (tabular) Dichotomous Key

The dotted line shows the The ticks shows the steps a
choices a person would make to person would take to determine the
determine the name of the name of the organism
organism

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