Course CodeBEN104Fee CodeS3Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Learn Vertebrate Zoology A foundation for anyone who works with animals whether pets, pests, wildlife or livestock Lesson Structure There are 11 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 Carinatae (flying birds) Water Birds (eg. Grebes, divers, Ducks, geese and swans, Storks, flamingos 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 mammals -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: Aardvarks Order Hyracoidea. This includes: Hyraxes (or Conies) Order Proboscidea. This includes: Elephants Order Sirenia. This includes: Manatees and Dugongs Primates and other Archonta. This grand order 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 Problem-Based Learning Project A BROAD STUDY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PLACENTAL MAMMALS This course provides an understanding of all the significant groups of vertebrates, from sharks through birds, reptiles and amphibians to mammals. It does however devote more lessons to mammals than all of the other groups. This is because of the significance that mammals have to man. Mammals comprise thousands of genera, many of which are extinct; classified into three groups: Prototheria – egg laying animals, several species found only in Australia (eg. platypus) Metatheria – marsupial animals found in Australia and South America (eg. Kangaroo), and Eutheria – includes the majority of contemporary species (placental mammals) and is distributed in all continents of our planet. Eutheria or placental mammals are a rather diverse group, with nearly 4000 described species. The placental mammals include such diverse forms as whales, elephants, shrews, and armadillos, dogs, cats, sheep, cattle and horses. Humans, of course, are also placental mammals.