Dichotomous Key Practice
This worksheet helps 8th-grade students practice using dichotomous keys to identify organisms based on their characteristics.
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Dichotomous Key Practice
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Read each question carefully and use the provided dichotomous key to identify the organisms or answer the questions. A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish.
Dichotomous Key for Imaginary Creatures:
1a. Creature has wings .............................................................. go to 2 1b. Creature does not have wings .......................................... go to 3 2a. Creature has feathers ..................................................... Flier 2b. Creature has leathery wings .......................................... Glider 3a. Creature has more than 4 legs ....................................... Crawler 3b. Creature has 4 legs or less ............................................ go to 4 4a. Creature has fur ............................................................ Prowler 4b. Creature has scales ..................................................... Slider
1. According to the key, a creature with leathery wings would be identified as a:
Flier
Glider
Crawler
Prowler
2. Which characteristic would lead you to identify a creature as a 'Crawler'?
Has feathers
Has fur
Has more than 4 legs
Does not have wings
3. A creature that has wings and feathers would be classified as a .
4. If a creature does not have wings and has scales, you would identify it as a .
5. Describe the purpose of a dichotomous key in scientific classification.
6. Each step in a dichotomous key typically offers three choices.
True
False
Use the image below and the following key to identify the type of leaf shown.
Dichotomous Key for Leaf Identification: 1a. Leaf is simple (one blade per petiole) .............................. go to 2 1b. Leaf is compound (multiple leaflets per petiole) ............ go to 4 2a. Leaf margin is smooth ................................................ Entire 2b. Leaf margin is toothed or lobed ................................... go to 3 3a. Leaf margin is toothed ............................................... Serrated 3b. Leaf margin is deeply lobed ........................................ Lobed 4a. Leaflets are arranged along a central stem .................... Pinnately Compound 4b. Leaflets radiate from a single point .............................. Palmately Compound
7. Based on the key and the image, what type of leaf is the maple leaf shown?