654-319 Biology of Marsupials and Monotremes

Zoology 654-202, 606-205 and 654-204 or equivalent and at least 25 points of third year zoology subjects. Students who do not have a pass in all prerequisites must seek permission from the coordinators.

This subject covers a wide range of biological disciplines, and shows how they are interconnected in the marsupials and monotremes. By the completion of the course, students should have developed an appreciation of the physiology, reproduction, behaviour, ecology and genetics of these mammals and understand how these characteristics have developed in the evolutionary and biogeographical histories of Australia and South America. This subject also covers the basic taxonomic features of modern marsupials and monotremes, the separate radiations of marsupials in Australia and South America, and the relationships between the three groups of extant mammals. The reproductive and developmental biology of marsupials and monotremes separates them markedly from each other and from eutherian mammals, and this subject puts particular emphasis on their study. We also show how studies of marsupials provide unique opportunities for understanding mammalian biology generally.

A 2-hour end-of-semester written examination. Up to 3000 words of assignment.