Dichotomous keys are a type of identification key and are tools that allow the identification of the names of taxonomic groups belonging to a group of organisms, usually in a certain geographic or ecological region. Through systematic descriptions, this type of key works by offering two options in each step and choosing one of them determines the next step.
The use of identification keys leads the user to know not only the different characteristics of the species, but also helps to understand the reasoning used in the classification of these species.
Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. "Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts". Therefore, dichotomous keys always give two choices in each step
