Biology - M. Murphy
Dichotomous Key - Protists
Dichotomous Key - Protists
Use the key below to identify the protist shown.
Remember, always start with step one for each new organism.
Remember, always start with step one for each new organism.
Flagella: 2 - one long, one short
Habitat: freshwater and saltwater
Causes Infection: no
Cell Wall/Shell: no
Pseudopods: no
Unique Traits: Has a light sensitive red
"eyespot" at the base of the flagella
Habitat: freshwater and saltwater
Causes Infection: no
Cell Wall/Shell: no
Pseudopods: no
Unique Traits: Has a light sensitive red
"eyespot" at the base of the flagella
Dichotomous Key for Common Protists:
1a. Has at least one flagella ........................................ go to step 2
1b. Has no flagella ...................................................... go to step 6
2a. Has one flagella, surrounded by a collar at its base ..... Choanoflagellate
2b. Has more than one flagella ........................................... go to step 3
3a. Infects animal tissues ............................................ go to step 4
3b. Does not infect animal tissues .............................. go to step 5
4a. Has two nuclei ...................................................... Giardia
4b. Has one nucleus .................................................. Trichomonas
5a. Has a red eyespot at the base of the flagella ....... Euglena
5b. Has no red eyespot .............................................. Dinoflagellate
6a. Gathers food using pseudopods .......................... go to step 7
6b. Does not use pseudopods ................................... go to step 9
7a. Has a shell ........................................................... go to step 8
7b. Does not have a shell .......................................... Amoeba
8a. Shell is made of calcium carbonate ..................... Foraminifera
8b. Shell is made of silica .......................................... Radiolaria
9a. Infects animal tissues ......................................... Toxoplasma
9b. Does not infect animal tissues ............................ go to step 10
10a. Forms multicellular kelp ................................... Brown algae
10b. Forms unicellular phytoplankton ...................... Diatom
1a. Has at least one flagella ........................................ go to step 2
1b. Has no flagella ...................................................... go to step 6
2a. Has one flagella, surrounded by a collar at its base ..... Choanoflagellate
2b. Has more than one flagella ........................................... go to step 3
3a. Infects animal tissues ............................................ go to step 4
3b. Does not infect animal tissues .............................. go to step 5
4a. Has two nuclei ...................................................... Giardia
4b. Has one nucleus .................................................. Trichomonas
5a. Has a red eyespot at the base of the flagella ....... Euglena
5b. Has no red eyespot .............................................. Dinoflagellate
6a. Gathers food using pseudopods .......................... go to step 7
6b. Does not use pseudopods ................................... go to step 9
7a. Has a shell ........................................................... go to step 8
7b. Does not have a shell .......................................... Amoeba
8a. Shell is made of calcium carbonate ..................... Foraminifera
8b. Shell is made of silica .......................................... Radiolaria
9a. Infects animal tissues ......................................... Toxoplasma
9b. Does not infect animal tissues ............................ go to step 10
10a. Forms multicellular kelp ................................... Brown algae
10b. Forms unicellular phytoplankton ...................... Diatom
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