Dichotomous Key Quiz

Dichotomous Key

• A tool that assists scientists in observing and classifying organisms.
• Helps in assigning scientific names based on observations and comparisons.

Binomial Nomenclature

• A systematic approach to naming organisms using two terms: genus and species.

Scientific Name Components

• Every scientific name consists of two parts: the genus name and the species identifier.

Language of Scientific Names

• Most scientific names are derived from Latin, which is used universally in taxonomy.

Formatting of Scientific Names

• Scientific names are italicized to distinguish them from regular text.

Capitalization in Scientific Names

• The first part of a scientific name (genus) is capitalized, following the formatting rules.

Lowercase in Scientific Names

• The second part of the scientific name (species) is always written in lowercase.

Rules of Scientific Nomenclature

• There are three essential rules for writing a scientific name correctly.

Additional Resources for Practice

• Extra help on dichotomous keys can be found in class practice slides or the classwork website.

Scientific Name Examples

• Felis catus: The scientific name for domestic cats.
• Ailuropoda melanoleuca: The scientific name for giant pandas.