Dichotomous Keys Using Smiley Faces

1. Teeth visible ....................go to 2
.....Teeth not visible .................go to 4

2. Has a wide, toothy smile .......Smilus toothyus
....Is not smiling ......................go to 3

3. Visibly crying .................Smilus dramaticus
.... Frowning .......................Smilus upsettus

4. Eyes are symmetrical .... go to 5
....Eyes not symmetrical .....go to 8

5. Eyes shaped like hearts ..... Smilus valentinus
....Eyes are shaped as ovals .....go to 6

6. Smiling, happy face ...... Smilus traditionalis
.....Not happy, frowning or other .....go to 7

7. Mouth curved down, frowning .... Smilus saddus
.... Mouth is a small circle .................Smilus suprisus

8. Has a pirate eye patch ...............Smilus piratus
....Does not have eye patch ............ go to 9

9. One eye is much larger than the other eye ..... Smilus mutatus
One eye is winking .................Smilus winkus

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Extension:

A. The names of the smilies give you another bit of information about their taxonomy.
Each of these smilies belongs to the same genus.

What is their genus?

B. Names are often given to an organism by the person who discovers it, though they follow certain conventions, often they are named after the person, or where the organism was found, or given a name that describes the creature.

Which convention was used in naming these smilies?

C. Suppose you discovered the new smiley like this one: What name would you give it?

D. Create a small dichotomous key that names the following creatures.