Home > Biology > Classification and Domains of Life

What is a taxonomic key and how is it used?

Answer 1

It's an alternative scientists use to identity animals. Basically, by their traits.

Consider it like a maze; if you follow the correct path, you will eventually discover the identity of the animal. For instance, if an animal has black spots, it will say "Go to 4," or if it has no spots, "Go to 3."

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer 2

Madeline Andrews

An organism's characteristics are used by biologists to identify it; a taxonomic key is a set of paired statements or questions that guide the user to the correct identification of the organism by eliminating options at each stage. Observable traits like morphology, behavior, or habitat are typically used by the key to distinguish between species.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.