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  • 1 - Shark Key and Question Answers

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    Armani Watts
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    The document is a taxonomic key for identifying shark species. It lists 14 shark families and provides answers to 5 questions about using dichotomous keys and shark taxonomy. The questions cover how dichotomous keys work from general to specific characteristics, distinguishing characteristics between specific shark families, what taxonomic levels are represented in binomial names, and why dichotomous keys only present two choices at each step.

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    Shark answer key

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    1 - Shark key and question answers

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    The document is a taxonomic key for identifying shark species. It lists 14 shark families and provides answers to 5 questions about using dichotomous keys and shark taxonomy. The questions cover how dichotomous keys work from general to specific characteristics, distinguishing characteristics between specific shark families, what taxonomic levels are represented in binomial names, and why dichotomous keys only present two choices at each step.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    6K views2 pages

    1 - Shark Key and Question Answers

    Uploaded by

    Armani Watts
    The document is a taxonomic key for identifying shark species. It lists 14 shark families and provides answers to 5 questions about using dichotomous keys and shark taxonomy. The questions cover how dichotomous keys work from general to specific characteristics, distinguishing characteristics between specific shark families, what taxonomic levels are represented in binomial names, and why dichotomous keys only present two choices at each step.

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    SHARK TAXONOMIC KEY ANSWERS

    (For ease of grading, I have removed the instructive parts of the lab from the key)
    1. Rajidae
    2. Alopidae
    3. Pristiophoridae
    4. Carcharhinidae
    5. Scyliorhinidae
    6. Rhinocodonididae
    7. Isuridae
    8. Squalidae
    9. Dasyatidae
    10. Scapanohynchidae
    11. Pseudotriakidae
    12. Hexanchidae
    13. Sphyrinidae
    14. Mobulidae
    1. As you worked down the dichotomous classification key to identify sharks, did you go from
    general to specific characteristics or from specific to general characteristics? Explain your
    answer using four characteristics that were used in the shark key.

    You should be going from general to specific characteristics. Many sharks look alike, but some
    of very distinctive features. Removing those from your options will allow you to examine
    specific details that separate one group from another. Four characteristics that should be used
    include body shape, body appendages, gill number, and various fin conditions (presence of, size,
    length, etc.).

    2. Which main characteristics could be used to distinguish shark 4 from shark 8?

    The main difference between sharks 4 and 8 was is that shark 4 (Carcharhinidae) has an anal fin,
    whereas shark 8 (Squalidae) does not.

    3. Which main characteristic could be used to distinguish shark 4 from shark 7?


    The main difference between sharks 4 and 7 was that shark 4 (Carcharhinidae) has a caudal fin
    where the top half is different in shape and size from the bottom half whereas shark 7 (Isuridae)
    has a caudal fin that is nearly the same size on both lobes.

    4. What taxons (classification levels) are represented by the scientific name of an organism?
    What are the rules for writing a binomial name?

    The family level of taxonomic nomenclature is what is given here. An individual species is
    identified using a binomial name consisting of the genus and the species names. The genus is the
    most recent ancestors and the species is that organism’s individual identifying name. Think of it
    in terms of your name. Your last name would be the genus (your most recent ancestor) and your
    first name being the species name (your individual identifier). A binomial name should have the
    genus capitalized, while the species name is not. Both names should be in italics if you are
    typing them or underlined if you are writing them out by hand.

    5. Why do biological classification keys always present only two choices at each step?

    This simplifies the options available for identification. A key that is unnecessarily complex can
    create confusion and potentially result in misidentification of a species.

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