Vertebrate Zoology

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

Vertebrate Taxonomy and Diversity Taxonomic classifications (Kingdom, Phylum, Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).
Morphology and Evolution
Environmental and Genetic Influences
Speciation
Diversification
Convergence
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) Bird orders (eg. Grebes, divers, Ducks, geese and swans, Storks, flamingoes and herons, Owls, Eagles, falcons and hawks, Pelicans, gannets and cormorants, 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
(eg. kangaroos, koalas, wombats, bandicoots, opossums, phalangers, etc);
Marsupials Physiology and locomotion,
Reproduction
Grandorders Glires and Insectivora
including Rodents, Rabbits, Pikas, Hedgehogs, Moles, Shrews and Tenrecs. Taxonomy, structure, Adaptations.
Carnivores
includes 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

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims

Distinguish between major groups of vertebrates through a demonstrated understanding of their taxonomic classification and diversity.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of all major groups of fishes.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of all major groups of Ectotherms, Amphibians and Reptiles.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of major groups of birds
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of all major groups of Mammals.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals in the order Marsupialia and compare mammalian specialisations with those of other vertebrates.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the grandorders Glires and Insectivora. Explain Ectothermy in a variety of different animals.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the order Carnivora.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the grand order Ungulata.
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the grandorder Archonta.