Animal Diversity IV

Paper Code: 
ZOL- 311
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
Course objectives: 
This course will enable the students to - 
1. Classify the animals of phylum Chordata according to their taxonomic characters. 
2. Analyze the adaptive radiation, structures and economic importance of animals belonging to  Chordata. 
3. Appraise the concept of neoteny and its biological importance in diverse animals. 
 
Course Outcomes (COs):  
 

Course 

Learning outcomes 

(at course level)

Learning and  teaching strategies

Assessment  Strategies 

Paper  

Code

Paper Title

ZOL-311 

Animal  

diversity IV 

The students will: 

CO 46: Classify the animals of phylum  Chordata according to their taxonomic  characters. 

CO 47: Examine the animals from class  Pisces to mammals including their  adaptive radiation, structures and  economic importance. 

CO 48: Analyze the concept of neoteny  and its biological importance in diverse  animals.

The approach in  teaching: 

Interactive Lectures,  Discussion, Tutorials,  Reading assignments,  Demonstration, Team  teaching 

Learning activities for  the students: 

Self-learning  

assignments, Effective  questions, Simulation,  Seminar presentation,  Giving tasks, Field  practical

Class test  

Semester end  examinations, Quiz,  

Assignments,  Presentation 

Surprise test 

Open book test

 

11.00
Unit I: 
UNIT I:
General characters and Classification of the Vertebrates upto order for each Class. 
 
Salient feature of the Type Study i.e. Habit, Habitat and External Morphology 
(Common for Unit-I to V)
 
 
  • Chordata 
  • Three main chordate character- Pharyngeal gill slits, dorsal nerve chord and notochord
  • Protochordates:- 
  • (i)Sub Phylum Hemichordata- Balanoglossus (Digestive system and development), Tornaria  larva 
  • (ii) Sub Phylum Urochordata- Ascidian(Digestive system and Nervous and Sensory System)- Retrogressive metamorphosis
 
9.00
Unit II: 
UNIT II:
 (iii) Sub Phylum Cephalochordata –Amphioxus (Digestive system, Excretory system) 
 (iv)Sub Phylum: Vertebrata 
 
Agnatha:- 
● Ostracoderms( a brief description) 
● Salient features: 
● Petromyzon (Ammocoete larva) 
 
7.00
Unit III: 
UNIT III:
Gnathostomata 
● Class Pisces 
● Scoliodon: General Characteristics 
● Difference between Osteichthyes & Chondrichthyes 
● Dipnoi
● Adaptive radiation in Fishes 
● Economic importance of Fishes 
10.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT IV:
Class Amphibia 
● Classification upto orders 
● Neoteny 
● Adaptive radiation in Amphibia 
 
Class Reptilia 
● Difference between snake and lizard, crocodile and alligator,Gharial, turtle and tortoise 
● Venomous and non Venomous snakes 
● Poison apparatus 
8.00
Unit V: 
UNIT V:
Class Aves 
● Feather and its Development 
● Flight adaptation 
● Perching mechanism 
 
Class Mammals 
● Dentition in mammals 
● Hair and its development
Essential Readings: 
● Young, J.Z.: The Life of Vertebrates. III Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford.  
● Jordon, E.L., Verma P.S. Chordate Zoology, S Chand and Co. 
● Text book of Chordate Zoology vol. II ;Sandhu, G.S. and Sandhu, G.S; Campus Books. 
● Modern text book of Zoology-Vertebrates; Kotpal, Rastogi Publication.  
● Vertebrate Zoology; Rastogi, V.B.; Ramnath and Kedarnath. 
References: 
SUGGESTED READINGS:
 
● Colbert’s evolution of the vertebrates; Colbert, E.H; John Wiley & Sons 
● Pough H. Vertebrate life, VIII Edition, Pearson International 
● Barrington,E.J.W.: The Biology Hemichordata and Protochordata Oliver & Boyd,London,1965 
● Romer, S. The vertebrate body. W.B. Saunders, London. 
● Student Text Book of Zoology. Vol.I.II and III. Sedgwick.A.
 
e-RESOURCES: 
 
Academic Year: 
2022-2023
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