chordata
chordate
Other (additional) characteristics include pharyngeal clefts, and endostyle (in higher forms, this becomes the thyroid), and an atrium (in lower forms) for feeding. Not all of these additional features are today found in the higher chordates. Some of the characteristics of the chordates are also possessed by some invertebrates such as the presence of bilateral symmetry, a coelom and cephalisation. Despite these similarities, the phylogenetic relationship of the chordates with other members in the animal kingdom is still debatable.
The chordates are a group of animals that include humans and other vertebrates. The evolution of the vertebrates started when ancient fishes appeared more than 400
million years ago. They were then followed by the amphibians which sprang from the
fishes. The amphibians were then followed by the reptiles, birds and mammals.
Members of the Phylum Chordata have more advanced and sophisticated organs and
organ systems than animals of other phyla. They are thus capable of occupying various
kinds of habitats. In this course we will attempt to understand the introductory biology
and evolutionary relationships among the major groups of the chordates. The groups will
be identified and classified according to their position in the
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course the student is expected to:
Describe and explain the basic biology, evolution and classification of vertebrates and the other forms. Students will be introduced to the array of Chordates which include not only the vertebrates, but also a number of other less familiar forms.
Identify
Introduction
Definition of the chordates
Explanation on how the extant chordates fit into the conventional evolutionary/phylogenetic trees of the Animal Kingdom.
CHORDATe plan
The chordate plan, its establishment elaboration as exemplified by the lower chordates
Adaptability of the plan to the higher chordates
Emphasis on Amphioxus as a representative chordate
EVOLUTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE VERTEBRATE CLASSES
Evolution of the vertebrates as determined by past geological and climatic change
Radiation and colonization of aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Overview on the origin of the chordates from filter feeding animals.
Emphasis on Hemichordata and Urochordata as the bridging organisms
CYCLOSTOMATA (Agnatha-Vertebrates without jaws)
Structural and functional features of the cyclostomes
Emphasis on the biology and evolution of Lampreys and Hagfish as generalized cyclostomes.
Please note: There is some new information on the evolution of agnathans, it is no longer clear if they led evolutionary to fish with jaws...Please check this on the web or from other most current sources.
CHONDRICHTHYES (Jawed vertebrates, soft-boned fishes)
Structural and functional features
Evolution and adaptive radiation of Chondricthyes (e.g. sharks, rays and chimaira).
OSTEICHTHYES (Jawed vertebrates, hard-boned fishes)
Structural and functional features
Biology and evolutionary adaptations of the bony fishes into aquatic habitats
Biology and classification of the lung fishes (Primitive osteichthyes)-emphasis on coelecanth as a representative lung fish
AMPHIBIA (First terrestrial vertebrates)
Structural and functional features
Biology and adaptive features of the amphibians for terrestrial life
REPTILIA (Life on land)
Structural and functional features
The adaptive characteristics of the reptiles for life on land
Evolutionary trends among the major reptilian groups
AVES (Life in the air)
Structural and functional features
The adaptive characteristics of the aves (birds) for life in the air
Evolutionary trends among the major groups of birds.
Please note: many birds (ostriches, etc) are not able to enjoy life in the air, because they cannot fly! However, all practice bipedalismYou will be exposed to the concept that the class Aves may be done away with and instead, birds should be considered as dinosaurs. This seemed a bit wild and funny when it was first presented, but more and more people are accepting it.
MAMMALIA
Structural and functional features
Origin and classification of mammals
Evolutionary trends of the major mammalian groups
Other (additional) characteristics include pharyngeal clefts, and endostyle (in higher forms, this becomes the thyroid), and an atrium (in lower forms) for feeding. Not all of these additional features are today found in the higher chordates. Some of the characteristics of the chordates are also possessed by some invertebrates such as the presence of bilateral symmetry, a coelom and cephalisation. Despite these similarities, the phylogenetic relationship of the chordates with other members in the animal kingdom is still debatable.
The chordates are a group of animals that include humans and other vertebrates. The evolution of the vertebrates started when ancient fishes appeared more than 400
million years ago. They were then followed by the amphibians which sprang from the
fishes. The amphibians were then followed by the reptiles, birds and mammals.
Members of the Phylum Chordata have more advanced and sophisticated organs and
organ systems than animals of other phyla. They are thus capable of occupying various
kinds of habitats. In this course we will attempt to understand the introductory biology
and evolutionary relationships among the major groups of the chordates. The groups will
be identified and classified according to their position in the
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course the student is expected to:
Describe and explain the basic biology, evolution and classification of vertebrates and the other forms. Students will be introduced to the array of Chordates which include not only the vertebrates, but also a number of other less familiar forms.
Identify
Introduction
Definition of the chordates
Explanation on how the extant chordates fit into the conventional evolutionary/phylogenetic trees of the Animal Kingdom.
CHORDATe plan
The chordate plan, its establishment elaboration as exemplified by the lower chordates
Adaptability of the plan to the higher chordates
Emphasis on Amphioxus as a representative chordate
EVOLUTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE VERTEBRATE CLASSES
Evolution of the vertebrates as determined by past geological and climatic change
Radiation and colonization of aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Overview on the origin of the chordates from filter feeding animals.
Emphasis on Hemichordata and Urochordata as the bridging organisms
CYCLOSTOMATA (Agnatha-Vertebrates without jaws)
Structural and functional features of the cyclostomes
Emphasis on the biology and evolution of Lampreys and Hagfish as generalized cyclostomes.
Please note: There is some new information on the evolution of agnathans, it is no longer clear if they led evolutionary to fish with jaws...Please check this on the web or from other most current sources.
CHONDRICHTHYES (Jawed vertebrates, soft-boned fishes)
Structural and functional features
Evolution and adaptive radiation of Chondricthyes (e.g. sharks, rays and chimaira).
OSTEICHTHYES (Jawed vertebrates, hard-boned fishes)
Structural and functional features
Biology and evolutionary adaptations of the bony fishes into aquatic habitats
Biology and classification of the lung fishes (Primitive osteichthyes)-emphasis on coelecanth as a representative lung fish
AMPHIBIA (First terrestrial vertebrates)
Structural and functional features
Biology and adaptive features of the amphibians for terrestrial life
REPTILIA (Life on land)
Structural and functional features
The adaptive characteristics of the reptiles for life on land
Evolutionary trends among the major reptilian groups
AVES (Life in the air)
Structural and functional features
The adaptive characteristics of the aves (birds) for life in the air
Evolutionary trends among the major groups of birds.
Please note: many birds (ostriches, etc) are not able to enjoy life in the air, because they cannot fly! However, all practice bipedalismYou will be exposed to the concept that the class Aves may be done away with and instead, birds should be considered as dinosaurs. This seemed a bit wild and funny when it was first presented, but more and more people are accepting it.
MAMMALIA
Structural and functional features
Origin and classification of mammals
Evolutionary trends of the major mammalian groups
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