The purpose of this course is to explore the animal kingdom. The course is an introduction to systematics, anatomy, and physiology of major animal groups. The course provides insights of the basic concepts of zoology and diversity of major groups of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Students learn general terms of anatomy, taxonomy and systematics; will understand the general principles that unite animal biology, appreciate the diversity found in the animal kingdom and understand the evolutionary relationships that explain this diversity, become familiar with the structure and function of vertebrate and invertebrate organ systems and appreciate some of the evolutionary changes that took place in the development of those organ systems.. We will also discuss evolutionary relationships among the different groups of animals. This course is accompanied by a lab course with hands-on activities focusing on selected taxa.
- Teacher: Eugene Potapov