Dichotomous Key - Fish
Step 1
 If fish shape is long and skinny, then go to step 2.
 If fish shape is not long and skinny, then go to step
3.
Step 2
 If fish has pointed fins, it is a trumpet fish.
 If fish has smooth fins, it is a spotted green moray
eel.
1. __________________
Step 3
 If fish has both eyes on top of the head, then go to
step 4.
 If fish has one eye on each side of the head, then go
to step 5.
9. __________________
Step 4
 If fish has long whip-like tail, it is a spotted eagle
ray.
 If fish has short, blunt tail, it is a peacock flounder.
8. __________________
2. __________________
Step 5
 If fish has spots, then go to step 6.
 If fish does not have spots, then go to step 7.
Step 6
 If fish has chin "whiskers," it is a spotted goat fish.
 If fish does not have chin "whiskers," it is a band-tail
puffer.
3. __________________
Step 7
 If fish has stripes, then go to step 8.
 If fish does not have stripes, it is a glassy sweeper.
7. __________________
Step 8
 If fish has a v-shaped tail, it is a squirrel fish.
 If fish has a blunt tail, it is a glass-eye snapper.
4. ___________________
5. ___________________
6. ___________________
Dichotomous Key – Trees
Note: A simple leaf means there is only one leaf per stem; a compound leaf has more than one leaf
per stem.
Step 1
 If the tree has needles, go to step 2.
 If the tree has leaves, go to step 5.
Step 2
1. __________________  If the needles are in bundles, go to step 3.
 If the needs are scale-like, it is a white cedar.
Step 3
 If there are 5 needles, it is a white pine.
 If there are 2 needles, go to step 4.
11. ________________
Step 4
 If the needles are thick and spread away from each
other, it is a jack pine.
2. __________________  If the needles are long and thin, it is a red pine.
Step 5
 If the leaves are simple, go to step 8.
 If the leaves are compound, go to step 6.
Step 6
10. ________________
 If the leaflets spread out from one point, go to 7.
 If the leaflets do not spread out from one point, it is
a white ash.
Step 7
 If there are 5 leaflets, it is a buckeye.
3. __________________
 If there are 7 leaflets, it is a horse chestnut.
9. ________________
Step 8
 If the leaf has notches, go to step 9.
 If the leaf does not have notches, go to step 10.
Step 9
 If the notches are pointed, it is a silver maple.
 If the notches are rounded, it is a sugar maple.
Step 10
8. _________________
4. ___________________  If the leaf narrows at both ends, it is a dogwood.
 If the leaf is heart-shaped, it is a catalpa.
5. ___________________
6. ___________________
7. ___________________