Study Vertebrate Zoology Online
Why Study this Vertebrate Zoology Course?
if you’re interested in the study of animals with backbones or if you want to learn more about vertebrates and their zoology, then this course may just be perfect for you! This online vertebrate zoology course will teach you every important thing there is to know about vertebrate animals. Such as the different characteristics of major groups of vertebrates and the way to distinguish them, the different species included in every group, and more.
Vertebrate Zoology is the study of all animals with a backbone (internal skeleton). This vertebrate zoology course is online and provides an excellent foundation for anyone wanting to know more about vertebrate animals or who is planning on doing further study. You will learn about diversity, taxonomic classification and study in-depth mammals, fishes, birds, reptiles, marsupials and more.
- 100 hours self paced study
- full tutor support by experienced and friendly tutors
Course 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.
- To 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 grand order Archonta.
Course Outline
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
- 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
- Problem-Based Learning Project
Enrol Now
- Experienced Tutor support
- Certificate sent to you
- Online study (Printed notes available)
- Self paced - no set timetable
- 12 months to complete course
From: $35.00 / week for 19 weeks