Section outline

  • Photos show a tiger, a gorilla, and an eagle.
    Vertebrates are among the most recognizable organisms of the Animal Kingdom, and more than 62,000 vertebrate species have been identified. The vertebrate species now living represent only a small portion of the vertebrates that have existed in the past. (Image from Biology 2e from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image credit a: modification of work by Dave Pape; credit b: modification of work by Dave Proffer; credit c: modification of work by Haui Ared). 


    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Describe the distinguishing characteristics of chordates.
    2. Describe the developmental fate of the notochord in vertebrates.
    3. Describe the difference between jawless and jawed fishes.
    4. Discuss the distinguishing features of sharks and rays compared to modern fishes.
    5. Describe the important difference between the life cycle of amphibians and the life cycles of other vertebrates
    6. Describe the main characteristics of amniotes
    7. Identify the characteristics of reptiles
    8. Describe the evolutionary history of birds
    9. Describe the derived characteristics in birds that facilitate flight
    10. Name and describe the distinguishing features of the three main groups of mammals
    11. Describe the derived features that distinguish primates from other animals
    12. Explain why scientists are having difficulty determining the true lines of descent in hominids


    To achieve these objectives: [Edit these items to match your resources and activities.]

    1. Read the Module 3 Introduction
    2. Read and view the materials in the Module  Pressbooks book
    3. Read Chapter # in Textbook Title, Article Title, etc. [Include all reading assignments here that are outside of Moodle. Be as concise as possible. More information can be included in the third-party section below, if necessary.]
    4. Complete the [Learning Objectives in each section of the chapter and submit them to the assignment Due link]


    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module on the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    • 9.1 Introduction URL
    • 9.2 Chordates URL
    • 9.3 Fishes URL
    • 9.4 Amphibians URL
    • 9.5 Reptiles URL
    • 9.6 Birds URL
    • 9.7 Mammals URL
    • 9.8 The Evolution of Primates URL
    • General Biology II Wikimedia Commons Lecture Notes (PDF file) URL
      Students must
      Mark as done

      This link provides you with access to lecture notes for General Biology II.  This is a complete lecture note series.  These lecture notes were licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license.  This is an ancillary tool to assist you.  These lecture notes are not associated with the General Biology 2E Pressbook.  Should you have any questions, please contact your instructor.


    • Module 4: Chapter: 9 Vertebrates: Assignment
      Students must
      Mark as done
      Instructions

      Complete the Learning Objectives in each section of Chapter 9.  These objectives should be completed as an MS Word document and submitted in this link by the due dates outlined in your course syllabus.  Please make sure you save the document as: i.e. (Module 3: Chapter 9 Learning Objectives, etc..)

      Additionally, please make sure that you complete the Review Questions and Critical Thinking sections located in Chapter 9 in Pressbooks.




    • Module 4 Vertebrates Discussion Forum
      Students must
      Post replies: 1
      Make forum posts: 1
    • Module 4: Chapter 9: Vertebrates Lecture Outline File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      This lecture outline was created by Wikibooks: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License and complements Chapter 9:  Vertebrates. 



    • Lab Module 4: Vertebrates URL
      Students must
      Mark as done

      This laboratory activity is from an OER Resource.  In this laboratory, we will dive deeper into the animal world and learn about some of the organisms that are vertebrates.  Animals that belong to the Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata (from the Latin word vertebratus, which means 'jointed'), in addition to the notochord, pharyngeal gill slits, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and a post-anal tail possess a backbone or vertebral column.  

      This is the Lab Exercise: Animals II - Vertebrates from the CUNY General Biology Laboratory Manual. 

      Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-SA (attribution - non commercial - share alike)

    • Lab Module 4: Vertebrate Laboratory Activity Worksheet Assignment
      Students must
      Mark as done

      This is the Open Educational Resources laboratory worksheet that accompanies the laboratory manual to be completed.  This worksheet has the information that is included in the weblink.

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