YOU'RE THE SCIENTIST!

A KEY FOR IDENTIFYING PRIMATE SPECIES

Getting Started...Practicing Observation

We’re going to use a dichotomous key to identify primate species. Before we do, let’s practice our powers of observation with this exercise.

From the three guenon monkey photos above, select one species.

  • Look closely at the monkey that you selected.
  • Write down three features or characteristics of that monkey.
  • Show the photos to a partner. 
  • Now read the three observations you wrote down to your partner without telling them which species you picked. 
  • Can they correctly identify the unknown guenon species based on your descriptions?

Now, let’s apply those powers of observation to a dichotomous key.

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