Vertebrate Zoology

Lesson Structure: Vertebrate Zoology BEN104

There are 10 lessons:

Vertebrate Taxonomy and Diversity Taxonomic classifications (Kingdom, Phylum, Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).
Morphology and Evolution
Environmental and Genetic Influences
Speciation
DiversificationConvergence
Diet
Habits
Distribution
Terminology
Fishes Fish Diversity (major groups):
Class Agnatha (jawless fishes)
Class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) and
Class Osteichthyes (bony fishes).
Ectotherms - Amphibians and Reptiles:
Definitions, Endothermy, Ectotermic, Tetrapods
Class Amphibia
Order Anura (Salientia) Frogs and Toads, Salamanders and Newts
Order Apoda (Gymnophiona) Caecilians
Class Reptilia: Reptiles (turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodiles and the extinct Dinosauria)
Order Rhynchocephalia - Tuatara
Order Chelonia (Testudines) - Turtles, tortoises
Order Crocodilia - Crocodilians
Order Squamata - Lizards and Snakes
Birds -Physiology (Structure) and Anatomy, Feathers, Colour, Legs, Skeletal structure, Muscles, Senses, Behaviour (Flight, Diving, etc), Egg formation, Hatching.
Bird Taxonomy
Ratitae (flightless) birds
Carinatea (flying birds)
Water Birds (eg. Grebes, divers, Ducks, geese and swans, Storks, flamingoes and herons, pelicans, gannets and cormorants,)
Owls, Eagles, falcons and hawks
Chickens, turkeys, game birds and mount birds
Rails, coots and cranes,
Pigeons and sand grouse,
Gulls, auks and plovers,
Parrots, parakeets, Hummingbirds, swifts, Woodpeckers, toucans, Kingfishers, bee-eaters and hornbills, Trogonos, quetzals, plumed birds
Perching birds such as sparrows, starlings, swallows (Passeriformes),
Diving birds, loons, Cuckoos, coucals Nighthawks, whippoorwills, Mousebirds, etc.
Mammals (Mammalia)
Overview - Taxonomy
Sub class Prototheria (egg laying animals) - echidna and platypus
Sub class Metatheria (Marsupials) eg. koala, kangaroo and opossum
Sub class Eutheria (Placental masmmals -these include such diverse forms as whales, elephants, shrews, and armadillos, dogs, cats, sheep, cattle and horses. Humans, of course, are also placental mammals).
Marsupials -Subclass Theria
kangaroos
koalas
wombats
bandicoots
opossums
phalangers, etc
Marsupials Physiology and locomotion, Reproduction
Grandorders Glires and Insectivora
Rodents
Rabbits
Pikas
Hedgehogs
Moles
Shrews and Tenrecs
Taxonomy, structure, Adaptations
Carnivores
dogs
wolves
bears
racoons
cats
weasels
hyenas
seals, sea lions and walruses
Taxonomy, Physiology, Adaptations
Hoofed Mammals (Ungulata: Includes seven orders)
Order Artiodactyla. This includes: Hippopotami, Deer, Giraffe, Sheep, Cattle, Antelope, Camelids
Order Cetacea. This includes: Dolphins, Porpoises, Whales
Order Perissodactyla. This includes: Horses, Rhinoceroses, Tapirs
Order Tubulidentata. This includes: Ardvarks
Order Hyracoidea. This includes: Hyraxes (or Conies)
Order Proboscidea. This includes: Elephants
Order Sirenia. This includes: Manatees and Dugongs
Primates and other Archonta. This grandorder is sub divided into four sub orders:
Scandentia e.g. Tree Shrews
Dermoptera e.g. Flying Lemurs, Colugos
Chiroptera. This order comprises the bats.
Primates (Or Order Primates and sub order Strepsirhini) e.g. humans, monkeys, apes and lemurs

What you will be doing during this Course

During this course, the student will carry out the following activities. Where a student’s mobility is limited or there is a lack of facilities in the student’s home locality, an equivalent activity can be offered
Visit a Zoo, Wildlife Park or even a Pet Shop. Observe the range of animals present and report on them.
Visit an aquarium supply shop, marine park, fish retailer, or other facility where you can observe fish. If your mobility is restricted or you are unable to locate such a facility, look at the web site of an aquarium, and see what diversity of animals is to be seen on that web site. Identify animals from different orders and report on them.
Research the anatomical characteristics of one species of fish
Investigate the biological characteristics of one species of amphibian
Investigate the biological characteristics of one species of reptile
Research the biological characteristics of one species of bird
Observe the behaviour of a bird or birds for 1 hour (in the wild, or captivity). Take notes
Investigate the biological characteristics of one species of mammal.
Research a particular family or genus of marsupial.
Visit either a pet shop or zoo and observe any animals from the Glires or Insectivora that you find there.
Observe a dog closely. Take note of its external features in the light of the things you have learned in this lesson. Notice the shape of the head, body and legs, the characteristics of the feet, etc. Make notes on your observations. Compile a scientific description of the anatomy of the dog you observed. Where possible, use technical terminology that you have learned during your course.
Visit a farm, pet shop or zoo and observe any animals belonging to the Grandorder Ungulata that you find there. Make a list of these animals.
Research an order, family, genus or species of hooved Mammal (Ungulata).
Try to find out about the characteristics of your chosen group
Try to observe some monkeys and/or apes. You might do this by visiting a zoo, watching a video or looking on the Internet. Make notes of any similarities and dissimilarities you observe between these animals and humans. Research their physical and behavioural characteristics with a view to comparing these with human characteristics.
SPECIAL PROJECT: Prepare a report on the relationship between environmental change and mammalian evolution.