Identification

Identification is the process of determining the identity or taxonomic position of an organism, specimen, or other biological entity, using observable traits, evidence, or molecular data.

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Taxonomic key: A tool that identifies organisms through a sequence of choices based on observable characteristics. Its branching choices turn observed traits into a systematic identification.
Taxonomy: The science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms. Identification places an entity within the classification taxonomy organizes.
Biodiversity monitoring: The repeated measurement of biological diversity across places or over time. Consistent identification makes changes in species presence and abundance interpretable.
DNA metabarcoding: A method that uses DNA sequencing to detect multiple taxa in a mixed biological sample. Unlike single-specimen identification, it analyzes many potential taxa together.
Morphology: The study of the form and structure of organisms and their parts. External and internal forms supply many characters used to identify specimens.
Diagnostic character: A trait or combination of traits that distinguishes one taxon from others. Such characters provide the observable evidence for distinguishing candidate taxa.
Citizen science: Scientific research conducted partly or wholly by members of the public. Public observations can contribute records when organisms are identified accurately.
Phylogenetic inference: The use of data and models to estimate evolutionary relationships among organisms. It reconstructs relationships rather than simply assigning an unknown entity a taxon.
DNA barcoding: A method that identifies species by comparing short, standardized DNA sequences. A genetic sequence can identify specimens when visible traits are ambiguous.
Species: A fundamental taxonomic rank used to group organisms, with definitions that vary across biology. Many identification tasks aim to decide which species a specimen belongs to.