Dichotomous Key

7.11.A examine organisms or their structures such as insects or leaves and use dichotomous
keys for identification

Dichotomous Key (two branches or two names) - a tool used to identify organisms based on statements that are in pairs.  This is the tool we use to determine the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species of an organism.

Leaves

Bugs

Bug Vocabulary

Fore - front                                      Forelegs - front legs                     Forewings - front wings

Armor like - hard wings                  Membraneous Underwing or hind wing
          like an armor                         Wings you can see through that are 
                                                            under the armor like wings.

Prothorax - neck                              Proboscis - probe, like a straw, long 
                                                               tube mouthpart used to draw up food.

Non-Segmented - solid                    Segmented - in more than one piece
​         1 piece
Once you have identified your insect, click on the button below to check out more cool information about your creature.  The link was contributed by Noah (aka Bug Geek)

Birds

Stout - thick or fat                                            Slender - thin, or skinny
Photos from ​http://www.buzzle.com/articles/different-types-of-bird-beaks.html