654-202 Animal Structure and Function

Biology 600-141 and 600-142; or 600-131 and 600-132

Upon completion of this subject students should have:

• an appreciation of the range and diversity of vertebrate animals;

• an insight into the evolutionary history and relationships of the vertebrate groups; and

• an understanding of the anatomy and functional organisation of the vertebrate body.

In the laboratory component students should:

• gain a practical knowledge of the structural diversity and relationships of the vertebrates; and

• acquire skills in the anatomical and microscopical methods relevant to the study of vertebrate animals.

The subject provides an introduction to basic vertebrate anatomy and functional organisation; the diversity and relationships of living vertebrates; aspects of vertebrate phylogeny; and principal organ systems of the vertebrate body. The practical component will cover the microscopic anatomy of vertebrates; comparative studies of the vertebrate skeleton; and the gross anatomy of selected vertebrates.

A 2-hour end-of-semester written examination and a 2-hour end-of-semester practical examination; laboratory notebooks and excursion reports of up to 1200 words in total.