ENR 2103: VERTEBRATE RESOURCES
Course Description
This course introduces students to vertebrate evolution, characteristics and adaptations to their
environments. It also deals with uses of both traditional and commercial vertebrates including fish,
herpetiles (amphibians, reptiles), birds and mammals which are widely used for different purposes
by various communities. The course explores these uses and their impact on various vertebrate
populations. It also emphasizes the non consumptive uses including recreation and cultural
purposes and how these vertebrates can be conserved.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will have been;
 Introduced to the variety of vertebrates
 Exposed to various environmental regions and commercial uses of various vertebrates
 Exposed to the knowledge on the advantages and disadvantages of wild vertebrates
exploitation
 Introduced to new ways of utilizing wild vertebrates such as ranching and domestication
Course outline
Chordate characteristics
 Diagnostic characters of chordates
 Characters shared by chordates with higher non-chordates
Vertebrate diversity
 Evolution, natural selection, speciation
Fish
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
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Jawless fish (Agnatha) including
Ostracoderms, Cyclostomes and their principal
characters
Jawed fish (Gnathostomes) Cartilaginous fish i.e. characters, including origin and
evolution, advancement over cartilaginous fish and economic importance
Bony fishes including characters, origin and evolution, advancement over cartilaginous
fish and economic importance
Amphibians
 Diversity of amphibians including frogs , toads
 General characteristics of amphibians
 characters, origin and evolution, advancement over cartilaginous fish
importance of amphibians
and economic
Reptiles
 Diversity of reptiles ( crocodiles, caimans and alligators, tuataras ,lizards, snakes and
"worm-lizards and turtles)
 General characteristics of reptiles
 Characters, origin and evolution, advancement over cartilaginous fish and economic
importance of reptiles
Birds
 Diversity of birds
General characteristics of birds
 Characters, origin and evolution (Where did birds come from? How did they evolve flight?)
 Advancement over reptiles, ecological, social, recreational and economic importance of
birds
 Impacts of agricultural activities on birds (use of insecticides and acaricides; habitats
modification)
 International trade in birds
 Important bird areas of Uganda and conservation of birds
 Bird migration and avian flu
Mammals
 Diversity of mammals the monotremes (egg-laying mammals);
 the live-bearing mammals comprising of marsupials; and the placental mammals General
characteristics of mammals
 Characteristics of Living Prototherians
 Characteristics of Living Metatherians
 Systematic and Taxonomic History
 Adaptive radiation , origin and evolution, advancement over birds
 Economic importance of mammals for Humans: Negative and positive ,and ecological roles
Vertebrates as a resource and their conservation
 Definition and description of wild vertebrates
 Known cultural uses of vertebrates
 Commercial uses of vertebrates
 Ethics of wild vertebrates exploitation
 New ways of rearing vertebrates for both trade and pet use
 New ways of conserving and using vertebrates(Wild life ranching , biomedical research)
 Challenges in use and conservation of vertebrates
 Traditional uses and conservation of vertebrates
 Future of Africa’s wild vertebrates
Museum visit and report write up
 Carefully make well labeled diagrams of the cases 10 - 27 in the museum inferring on
vertebrates that are extinct to the still living forms i.e. from jawless fish to mammals.
Basic Reading List
1. Dharmi P.S and J.K Dharmi (2002) Chordate Zoology G.S Sharma proprietor R Chandler and Co.
Ansari Road Daryagani New Delhi.
2. Wilson, D., D. Reeder. 2005. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference.
Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Accessed May 22, 2007 at
http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw
3. HP Prins, TT Dolon N , and JJ Grootenhuris (2000) Wildlife conservation by sustainable use
KLuwer academic publishers
4. Hetrick J, Wildlife politics and policies , exploring Africa in the changing world, Indiana University
5 Hickman, C. P. Jr., L. S. Roberts, and A. Larson. 2003. Animal Diversity, 3rd edition. McGraw Hill,
Boston.
6. Lewis D. M, A Mwenya, G.B Kawedie (1990) Wildlife Management for Rural Development
7 .Jonathan R and Marco sacchi (1998) Where to watch birds in Uganda, Uganda tourist board IPS
building .Kampala Uganda
Methods of course delivery
 Practical and field based assignments
including visit to the Zoology museum at
the Department of Zoology
 Tutorials where small groups will be given
assignments and make presentations of 10
minutes each
Mode of Assessment
 Course Work (Take home essay, Timed
essay and Test)
 Practicals
 Student Presentations
 Final written Exam