Dichotomous Key

This e-book can help with the identification of unknown organisms or species. The method adopted uses mostly a dichotomous key based on two choices, which is either in written format or pictographic, or both. For convenience, there may be polytomous sections within the book. A written dichotomous key presents the reader with two statements that describe certain characteristics. The statements should be mutually exclusive for the key to work efficiently. For example, 'it is either red or it isn't'. On selecting one, the reader is presented with the next couplet choice in the key and so on - to eventually arrive at an identification. This key uses hyperlinks to navigate. Classification with keys 400px|right Taxonomic systems are based on similar characteristics or increasingly on DNA analysis. The systems attempt to model the natural order, thus helping research by classifying different organisms. Taxonomic systems vary, but the following system has been found useful: Domain Kingdom Phylum (called Division in plants) Class Order Family Genus Species There are many sub units in use. Keys usually start with a first selection from the following: Plantae - Plants. Typically multicellular, sessile organisms. Their cells have walls composed of cellulose. They are autotrophs, and photosynthesize (with exceptions). Animalia- Animals. Typically multicellilar, motile organisms. They lack rigid cell walls and are heterotrophic (with exceptions). Protista - (A contested group of around 40 phyla of eukaryotic organisms) Typically simple, eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms or multicellular microorganisms without specialized tissues. Fungi - Include yeast and molds. Typically eukaryotic, multicellular organisms. Like plants, they are sessile, but unlike plants they lack chloroplasts and are heterotrophic (with exceptions). Bacteria - Ubiquitous, single-celled prokaryotes a few microns in size, with varying morphology. Archaea - Relatively small group of single-celled prokaryotes more closely related to the eukaryotes than to the bacteria. How the key works Go to start Use choices given to arrive at the lowest possible level Organism is identified as much as possible If the description at each level does not appear accurate then back up to some earlier couplet and start over, questioning each decision more carefully. Finally, a verification step is important by comparing the specimen with any further details available including description,photographs and other reference. The habitat and location where the sample was collected is useful for plants. If the description and other information satisfactorily confer, then a correct identification is possible. Start Here Which Kingdom does it belong to? Animalia Plant /Fungi/ /Protista/ /Bacteria/ /Archaea/ Unknown Animalia Does it live underwater or mostly underwater? Yes No Plantae What kind of plant is it? Hornwort Liverwort Moss Fern or Fern Ally Cycad Ginkgo Conifer Flowering Plant Unknown Aquatic Animal What kind of animal is it? Alligator Barnacle Comb jelly Coral Crocodile Fish Frog Jellyfish Krill Mammal Sea Anemone Shark Sponge Starfish Stingray Toad Turtle Crab (Brachyura) also anomural (hermit crabs) Lobster or Crayfish (Astacidea) also achelata Shrimp (Dendrobranchiata & Caridea), also Cumacea, Stomatopoda, and Stenopodidea (just in case) Other Terrestrial Animal Alligator Bird Bug Crocodile Frog Insect Lizard Mammal Salamander Slug Snail Salamander Snake Toad Turtle Other Scorpion (Scorpiones), also Palpigradi, Amblypygi, Solifugae, Thelyphonida, Schizomida, and maybe Pseudoscorpionida just in case Fish What kind of fish is it? (Osteichthyes): Actinopterygii & Sarcopterygii, but also lampreys (Myxini) and hagfish (Petromyzontida) Bird What kind of bird is it? Albatross Cassowary Chicken Crane Cuckoo Dove Duck Emu Flamingo Goose Grouse Hummingbird Kiwi Loon Ostrich Partridge Penguin Pheasant Pigeon Quail Rhea Stork Swan Turkey Other bird Insect What kind of insect is it? Ant Ant lion Bee Beetle Bristletail Butterfly Centipede Cicada Cricket Damselfly Dragonfly Earwig Flea Fly Grasshopper Katydid Louse Mantis Mayfly Millipede Mite Moth Pillbug Roach Silverfish Spider Stick bug Tick Wasp Unknown Lizard What kind of lizard is it? Chameleon Gekko Gila monster Iguana Monitor lizard Skink Other lizard Shark Shark: Upper jaws not fused to skull; Has only one anal/urogenital opening; Has many sharp, replaceable teeth; Gill covering absent. Chimaera: Upper jaws are fused with skull; has separate anal and urogenital openings; Only three pairs of large, permanent grinding tooth plates; Has a gill covering similar to that of bony fishes. The keys in Wikibooks are still under development. A raw list is given below: /Animalia/ /Annelida/ /Hirudinea/ /Arthropoda/ /Hexapoda/ /Hemiptera/ /Coleoptera/ /Dermaptera/ /Lepidoptera/ /Neuroptera/ /Odonata/ /Orthoptera/ /Myriapoda/ /Arachnida/ /Acari/ /Parasitiformes/ /Chordata/ /Amphibia/ /Chondrichthyes/ /Selachimorpha/ /Dipnoi/ /Petromyzonidae/ /Reptilia/ /Testudines/ /Aves/ /Passeriformes/ /Anseriformes/ /Mammalia/ /Carnivora/ /Ursidae/ /Cetacea/ /Chiroptera/ /Lagomorpha/ /Marsupialia/ /Monotremata/ /Perissodactyla/ /Placentalia/ /Primates/ /Hominoidea/ /Hominidae/ /Homininae/ /Proboscidea/ /Sirenia/ /Cnidaria/ /Mollusca/ /Cephalopoda/ /Octopoda/ /Bolitaenidae/ /Tremoctopididae/ /Oegopsida/ /Porifera/ /Rotifera/ /Urochordata/ /Archaea/ /Bacteria/ /Protista/ /Fungi/ /Plantae/ /Lycopodiophyta/ /Magnoliophyta/ or Angiospermae Psilotophyta Psilotopsida Psilotales Psilotaceae D Alpha taxonomy 25% __NOTOC__ cs:Dichotomický klíč