Work with Key

Opening the Key section
One step of identification

Step-by-step identification mode

Continuation of identification

Choosing of possible mistakes ranges

The interactive identification process
- rules and possibilities:

The programme key is based on characters of considered taxa, i.e. on typical properties which are specify by the database author, who is based on morphology and phylogeny of the group. Examining the same character at related taxa at the same rank or into same phylogenetic “branches”, we always shall see a various form or a buildings of a organs or structures, that is various characters state.

Creating key at the beginning author specify characters and their states which will be identify higher rank taxa (for example rank of tribe), that characters are placed at the beginning of the Available characters list. Choosing into their state you will identify one of such higher taxon (i.e. one of the tribe).

There are characters for every rang, they are placed from top to bottom on seniority. To learn, which taxon rank is described the character you are able on an icon which is arranged at the left.

Characters and their states, which are described every representatives of one phylogenetic “branches”, have green background, we name such characters "typical" and recommend to start from them. If characters and their states, describe only some or only one representative of the phylogenetic “branches”, then such signs have blue background, we name such characters "special" and recommend to use them on the second and third step of identification.

Having opened the Key section, you will see the taxa names list (at the left) and available characters list (at the right). You may choose any available and clear to you character (which is described taxa from any rank), and then compared each its state with yours specimen, you should choose that state which corresponds to properties of yours specimen. You may choose (on) state into character further, describing by means their yours specimen. At any moment you may start the identification process and then the programme leaves exactly those taxa names, which are appropriate for the description made by you. Above available characters you will see diagnosis, where will be enumerated the characters and their state selected by you.

After first identification step the programme makes re-evaluation available character and leave only that characters and in them only that state, which are appropriate to left and identified taxa name. Draw your attention that at the right of the character arrange the numeral, which to indicate the number available states in this character. At the beginning of determination we recommend you use that character, which have not many state.

If as a result of identification taxon name is single on a rank, then the programme adds itself of the characters and their states described this name into diagnosis field. The background of that character will be orange.

You may began the identification from any known you higher taxon, in order to start identification from their subordinate taxa immediately.

You may identify taxa in step-by-step mode, or choose immediately some characters and into them some state.

If after the last identification the programme gets out all name, then you may point mistake range allowed at identification. After the programme will leave the names in the identification result in consideration of one or more (to three) mistakes in the diagnose.

At any moment you may undo one or more steps or return to beginning of identification.

The Males and females in a groups, which have sexual dimorphism, are identified by means different characters. You may point a sex of identifying specimen and the programme gets out the character of opposite sex.

If some taxa was not known by author of database, he could not include their in key, you may see the list such taxa name in the Key section.

The program provide possibility of interaction the Key and Search sections. As example you may identify a specimen name based on check-list of one country or some other region, beforehand having created this list in the Search section. Or having identified a list of names in the Key section, you may bring the list to the Search section and reduce it in consideration of different filters.