Arachnid Dichotomous Key

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Arachnid Key (Spiders, Scorpions, Ticks and Mites)

Starting with question #1, determine which statement (a or b) is true for your creature. Follow the directions at the end of that true statement until you are given the name of the Order your specimen belongs to.

1.	a.	Insect has a tail or a stinger ....................................................................................................	go to #2
	b.	Insect has no tail or stinger .....................................................................................................	go to #3


2.	a.	Tail is straight like a needle ......................................................................................................	Order Uropygi (whipscorpions)
	b.	Tail curves with a stinger at the tip ..........................................................................................	Order Scorpiones (scorpions)


3.	a.	Has enlarged pedipalps (claws) ...............................................................................................	go to #4
	b.	Lacks pedipalps (claws) ...........................................................................................................	go to #5


4.	a.	Insect is less than 5mm long & flat ..........................................................................................	Order Pseudoscorpiones (pseudoscorpions)
	b.	Insect is 8-51mm long & spider-like .........................................................................................	Order Amblypygi (whipscorpions)


5.	a.	Insect has regular legs ............................................................................................................	go to #6
	b.	Insect legs are thin & stilt-like with "high" knees & a body low to the ground ........................	Order Opiliones (harvestmen)


6.	a.	Body is separated into a cephalothorax & an abdomen (has a waist) ....................................	go to #7
	b.	Body is oval-shaped & lacks a waist ........................................................................................	Order Acari (ticks and mites)


7.	a.	Has 7 segments on each leg & 1st pair of legs are not longer than the rest ..........................	Order Araneae (spiders)
	b.	Has some other number of segments on each leg & 1st pair of legs are longer than the rest	Order Solifugae (windscorpions)

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