This is the second of two courses devoted to exploring the vertebrates; a highly diverse group of animals that share the feature of having a “backbone”. The vertebrates have succeeded in adapting to almost every habitat on earth, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, and from the cold of the poles to the heat of the equatorial deserts. The first course in this series, Bio338 Introduction to Ichthyology and Herpetology, looks at the fishes, amphibians, and reptiles; a diverse assemblage of ectothermic vertebrates that are usually covered in slime or scales and included in the fields of Ichthyology and Herpetology. In contrast, this course focusses on the endothermic birds and mammals; vertebrates covered in either feathers or fur and that make up the fields of Ornithology and Mammalogy. Bio338 and Bio339 are offered in rotation each fall, and although it is generally advisable to take Bio338 before taking Bio339, it is not required.
- Teacher: Michael Richardson