NY Fish Dichotomous Key - Hamilton-local.k12.oh.us
Name: Per: Date:Using a Dichotomous Classification Key to IdentifyCommon Freshwater Fish of New York StateSpecial Thanks to Rick Marshall, Massena High School, Massena NY for his contributions to the re-creation of this lab experience.Background: A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items inthe natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish. Keys consist of aseries of “either or” choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. "Dichotomous"means "divided into two parts". Therefore, dichotomous keys always give two choices in each step.Dichotomous keys are extremely important tools in science and even in fields like auto repair andcrime investigation. This lab uses the identification of some common types of North American fishas an example of how to use a dichotomous key.Purpose: The purpose of this laboratory experience is:-to use a dichotomous key for identifying common freshwater fish found in New York State,-to understand how scientists in a variety of fields use classification keys to identifyspecimens.-to further understand the necessity of the Linnaean classification system-to correctly identify unknown specimensMaterials: The following materials are needed to complete this laboratory experience:Lab papersPen and pencilSpecimen cards and diagramsProcedure: The following procedure is utilized to perform this experience:Study the terms listed below. All of these refer to structures of a fish.Barbel – a fleshy projection from the lip or head.FINS:Adipose- a small fin on the top mid-line of the body near the tail fin.Anal– a fin along the lower mid-line of the body near the tail fin.Caudal- tail fin.Dorsal – the fin or fins along the top mid-line of the body.Pectoral- the paired fins nearest the head, corresponding to front legs or arms.Pelvic- the paired fins nearest the tail, corresponding to hind legs.Scales- overlapping outgrowths of the skin.
1. Closely examine one of the drawings of a fish shown on the next pages.2. Read both statements listed under number 1 in the classification key.One of these statements should describe the fish you have chosen; the other should not.3. Refer to the number after the statement that fits your fish and look for that number in the key.4. Again select the statement that describes the fish you picked. Continue through the key until youcome to a name after one statement. This should be the name of the fish you picked.5. Practice using the key to identify several of the fish shownExample:Suppose you want to find the name of fish 2. Look at the classification key. Note that eachnumbered item presents two possibilities. We see that our fish has no scales, or at least wecannot see any. So we choose item lb. This refers us to number 12. So we go down thepage to number 12. Our fish is not elongated or snakelike (item 12b), so we go to number 13of the key. The fish we are classifying has barbels growing from its lips and the top of its head(item 3a), so we go to number 14 of the key. Since our fish has a caudal fin that is rounded, and ablunt head, we see that it is theBullhead catfish.
Classification Key for Common Freshwater Fish of New York State1.A. Body noticeably covered with scalesB. Scales not covering body or too small to be seen2.A. Dorsal fin singleB. Dorsal fins two or more, joined or separated3.A. Body more than four times as long as broad (top to bottom): frontedge of dorsal fin far back on body; mouth large, hinge back of eyeB. Body less than four times as long as broad: front edge of dorsal finabout midway between head and tail; mouth not large, hinge in frontof eye4.A. Dark lines forming netted design on body: fins not spottedB. Body covered with yellow spots; fins spotted5.A. Mouth turned downward: barbels absent; dorsal fin not elongatedB. Mouth not turned downward: barbels present; dorsal fin elongated6.A. Two dorsal fins separated, the anterior spiny and the posterior softB. Two dorsal fins united, forming an anterior spiny portion and aposterior soft portion7.A. Top of head concave, forming a hump in front of dorsal fin; darkvertical bars on bodyB. Top of head not concave, body sloping to dorsal fin and not forminga hump; dark blotches on body8.A. Body more than three times as long as broadB. Body less than three times as long as broad9.A. Hinge of jaws behind the eyeB. Hinge of jaws below the eye10. A. Mouth large, hinge below eye; sides flecked with dark spotsB. Mouth small, hinge in front of eye11. A. Pectoral and pelvic fins sharply pointed; few or no stripes on faceB. Pectoral and pelvic fins rounded; stripes on face12. A. Body much elongated and snakelike: dorsal, caudal, and anal finscontinuousB. Body not elongated and snakelike: dorsal, caudal, and anal finsseparate; adipose fin present13. A. Barbels growing from lips and top of head; head large and broadB. Barbels lacking; head not large and broad14. A. Caudal fin deeply forked; head taperingB. Caudal fin rounded or slightly indented but not forked: head blunt15. A. Dorsal fin rounded at top: body silvery, speckled with black markingsB. Dorsal fin long and pointed at top: body bluish-gray without speckles16. A. Caudal fin forked: back with distinct dark spotsB. Caudal fin square or slightly indented; back mottled or spotted17. A. Back and caudal fin spotted: broad horizontal band along sidesB. Back mottled with dark lines: caudal fin not spotted; fins edged withwhiteGo to 2Go to 12Go to 3Go to 6Go to 4Go to 5PickerelNorthern PikeWhite SuckerCommon CarpGo to 7Go to 8Yellow PerchWalleyeGo to 9Go to 10Largemouth BassSmallmouth BassRock BassGo to 11BluegillPumpkinseedAmerican EelGo to 13Go to 14Go to 16Go to 15BullheadChannel CatfishBlue CatfishAtlantic SalmonGo to 17Rainbow TroutBrook Trout
Data: The following data were collected during this experience:Fish #1Identified asIdentification pathway23456789101112131415161718Conclusion Questions: The following can be concluded from performing this lab experience:1. What did you learn to do?
2. What type of career would you expect to use this activity in? What would you be doing in thiscareer and what sort of benefit would making a key have?3. What was the most difficult part of developing your classification key?
Fish 1Fish 2Fish 3
Fish 4Fish 5Fish 6
Fish 7Fish 8Fish 9
Fish 10Fish 11Fish 12
Fish 13Fish 14Fish 15
Fish 16Fish 17Fish 18
Using a Dichotomous Classification Key to Identify Common Freshwater Fish of New York State Special Thanks to Rick Marshall, Massena High School, Massena NY for his contributions to the re-creation of this lab experience. Background: A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in
Using a Dichotomous Key Now identify the “Wacky Person” using the dichotomous key on page 4. Wacky People Dichotomous Key A dichotomous key gives clues in pairs of statements. With each character, start with the first pair of statements. Decide which description matches your character best and follow the line to the right.
Fish Dichotomous Key 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 5 If fish has spots, then go to step 6 If fish does not have spots, then go to step 7 Step 2 If fish has pointed fins, it is a trumpet fish If fish has smooth fins, it is a spotted moray eel Step 6
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A dichotomous key is used to classify organisms, using a list of characteristics to identify the organism. In this investigation, you will use a key to identify different adult species of insects. Using a dichotomous key for Insects: 1. Study the dichotomous key
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interface (API) used in a GEANT4 application. A simple application will use concrete classes provided with the toolkit, the developer will provide the detector description a primary generator (possibly using one of the general purpose ones provided with the toolkit), define the physics for the application (the physics list, possibly one of the few provided with the toolkit) and optional user .
