Help:Identification Keys

AntWiki contains identification keys, ranging from keys to subfamilies to keys to species. The shortest includes only 2 couplets while the longest reaches nearly 100. The following guidelines are generally used when constructing keys.

Top of Page
Start with the source of the key followed by any relevant notes concerning its use. The full citation can be included, or a reference to the full citation which is listed after the key in a ==References== section.

A link to the "parent" taxon of the items being keyed should be included (this is used to include a link to the key on the "parent" taxon page - if absent the key won't appear on that page). For example a key to species within a genus should have a link to that genus included. This often looks something like " Key to Atta species of the United States based on workers. "

The Body of the Key
After the introductory text add:

==1==

hides the table of contents (otherwise each couplet would be listed, which isn't very helpful) and ==1== is the start of the first couplet.

From the second couplet onwards a backward link can be included which returns to the couplet leading to this couplet. The full text option is " return to couplet #1 " while the template option is " ".

The link to the next couplet can be either " . . . . . 2 " or "  ".

The link to a taxon can be either " . . . . . Anochetus pupulatus " or " Cryptopone gilva ".

The use of text or templates is up to you. Some find full text easier, others like templates.

Key Templates
Genus species

Taxon Images
Ideally images of the front of the head and side of the body should be included at the point where the a species keys out. The following formats work well:

OR

Character Images
Images of specific characters used by a couplet are a great help and should be used when possible. As the number and sizes of images vary greatly there is no preferred layout style. Whatever works should be used.

Page Categories
The following categories should be included on each key page. They are traditionally placed at the bottom the page but can be placed anywhere, really.

Keys to Species
Not optional:

Optional:

Keys to Genera
Not optional:

Optional: