Overview

Students will learn about the evolution of vertebrates and distinctive adaptive features of each major group. Content includes comparative anatomy, systematics and functional morphology, with an emphasis on the musculoskeletal system.

Topic availabilities

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Tuition pattern

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Aims

This topic aims to provide students with an understanding of the diversity of the vertebrate body plan, and how the anatomy of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals relates to ecology and evolution.

The topic provides students with an opportunity to:

  • Become familiar with key defining features of the major vertebrate groups, especially of the skeletal and muscular systems
  • Link form with function, especially in relation to diet, locomotory capabilities, body size and posture
  • Apply observational, recording and analytical skills introduced during previous topics
  • Conduct independent but guided research relating form to function in living and/or extinct vertebrates

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Apply general principles to the identification and classification of different Australian vertebrate groups
2.
Distinguish between different vertebrate groups based on dental and skeletal attributes
3.
Make deductions about the habits and locomotion of extinct species
4.
Understand basic biomechanical principles

Assessments

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Requisites information

Anti-requisites:

Assumed knowledge

Knowledge such as can be obtained in BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity.