Open Learning Course in Zoology
During your studies you will learn with the help of highly qualified and experienced tutors.
The course is accepted by some professional associations as points for their Continuing Education Recording Scheme, category “Correspondence courses”.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course is divided into ten lessons as follows:
- Vertebrate Taxonomy and Diversity - Morphology and Evolution, Environmental and Genetic Influences, Speciation, Diversification, Convergence, Diet, Habits, Distribution, Terminology
- Fishes - Class Agnatha, Class Chondrichthyes, Class Osteichthyes
- Ectotherms: Amphibians and Reptiles - Definitions, Class Amphibia, Frogs and Toads, Salamanders and Newts, Caecilians; Class Reptilia, Tuatara, Turtles, tortoises, Crocodilians, Lizards and Snakes
- Birds - Taxonomy, Ratitae Birds, Carinatea, Water Birds, Predatory Birds, Poultry Birds, Rails, Coots and Cranes, Pigeons, Gulls, Plovers, Parrots, Hummingbirds, Perching Birds and Diving Birds and much more.
- Overview of Mammals - Taxonomy, Prototheria, Metatheria and Eutheria
- Marsupials - Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats, Bandicoots, Opossums, Phalangers, Marsupial Physiology, Locomotion and Reproduction
- Mammalian Glires and Insectivora - Rodents, Rabbits, Pikas, Hedgehogs, Moles, Shrews and Tenrecs, Taxonomy, Structure and Adaptations.
- Carnivores - Dogs, Wolves, Bears, Racoons, Cats, Weasels, Hyenas, Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses, Taxonomy, Physiology and Adaptations
- Hooved Mammals: Ungulata - Hippoptamus, Deer, Giraffe, Antelope, Cetaceans, Horse, Rhinoceros, Tapir, Ardvarks, Hyrax, Elephant, Manatee and Dugong.
- Primates and other Archonta - Tree Shrews, Flying Lemurs, Colugos, Bats and Primates.
AIMS
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- 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 grandorder Archonta.
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN 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 will 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 RESEARCH PROJECT: Prepare a report on the relationship between environmental conditions and mammalian evolution.
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