Video Transcript
A simple dichotomous key used to identify groups of vertebrates is provided. An organism that does not have fur but has feathers is discovered. Using the dichotomous key, determine which group it is most likely to belong to.
This question is asking us to use the dichotomous key provided to identify the group that a particular vertebrate must belong to. A dichotomous key uses the observable characteristics that an organism possesses in order to determine the identity of that organism. So what characteristics does our mystery organism possess? We’re told that this organism does not have fur, but it does possess feathers. Using this information, we should be able to identify its group.
We’ll start at the top, knowing that our organism is some type of vertebrate. And we’ve been told that this organism does not have fur. Continuing downwards, we reach another branch. And this time, we know that our mystery organism has feathers. Here our path ends, and we find the group bird. So the group that an organism that does not have fur but does have feathers is most likely to belong to, according to this dichotomous key, is bird.
