Dichotomous Key Examples

Here's an example in written form using these items:

1. a. Organism is living........................................................go to 4.
1. b. Organism is nonliving..................................................go to 2.

2. a. Object is metallic........................................................go to 3.
2. b. Object is nonmetallic..................................................ROCK.

3. a. Object has wheels......................................................BICYCLE.
3. b. Object does not have wheels......................................TIN CAN.

4. a. Organism is microscopic...................................PARAMECIUM.
4. b. Organism is macroscopic............................................go to 5.

5. a. Organism is a plant.....................................................go to 6.
5. b. Organism is an animal.................................................go to 8.

6. a. Plant has a woody stem..............................................go to 7.
6. b. Plant has a herbaceous stem.................................DANDELION.

7. a. Tree has needle like leaves.....................................PINE TREE.
7. b. Tree has broad leaves............................................OAK TREE.

8. a. Organism lives on land................................................go to 9.
8. b. Organism lives in water...............................................CLAM.

9. a. Organism has 4 legs or fewer......................................go to 10.
9. b. Organism has more than 4 legs...................................ANT.

10 a. Organism has fur........................................................go to 11.
10 b. Organism has feathers................................................ROBIN.

11 a. Organism has hooves.................................................DEER.
11 b. Organism has no hooves............................................MOUSE.