BIL 106 – Introduction to Zoology
Krempels
STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM II
Exam 2 will cover material in Chapters 4, 18 (amniote information) and 20. The
notes on the exam will be from Lectures 6-8, up to (not including) the section
heading “Afrotheria”. The following checklist should help you focus on what’s
most important, but don’t think of it as a substitute for reading the notes and text!
And, of course, you’ll always do much better if you come to class and have things
explained in person. Otherwise…caveat emptor (since you’re paying to be here!).
The Tree of Life: Classification and Systematics
Know what is meant by: phylogeny, taxonomy, systematics, phylogenetic tree, cladogram,
clade, monophyletic group vs. polyphyletic group (which is the one we try to construct?
Which do we try to avoid?)
Be able to read a phylogenetic tree. Where are the hypothetical ancestors represented?
Where are the descendants, living and extinct, represented?
Why is it more useful to use shared, derived characters than primitive ones to classify
organisms into smaller, more specific groups?
Know the meaning/significance of: primitive vs. derived characters, atavistic characters,
vestigial characters, homologous vs. analogous characters
Know the three Domains of Life, and which Domain contains animals. Know the
classification hierarchy from largest/most inclusive taxa (Domain, Kingdom) to
smallest/least inclusive taxa (genus, speces)
Know the practical reasons we use classification. Know the
Know the meaning/significance of: Systema naturae, Carl Linne/Carollus Linnaeus
Know the proper way to write the scientific name of a species.
Mammalian Characteristics
Know the characteristics that you can use to identify and set apart (from other taxa):
Craniates, Amphibians, Amniotes.
Be able to recognize the structures and significance/function of each inside an amniotic
egg.
Know which parts of the amniotic egg are modified into specific structures in the
mammalian placenta.
Know the main difference between the skulls of Anapsids (turtles), Synapsids (mammals),
and Diapsids (reptiles, including birds).
Know the three main types of mammals (Monotremes, Marsupials, and Eutherians), and
their defining characteristics.
Know the common names of the groups of mammals in each of the following taxa:
Laurasiatheria, Afrotheria, Euarchonotoglires, Zenartha, Marsupialia, Monotremata
Know the characteristics that set mammals apart from other types of animals
Understand the significance of dentition to the natural history of various types of animals.
Know the four different types of mammalian teeth, and how to read a dental formula.
Know the meaning/significance of the terms: homodont, heterodont, hypsodont.
Know the derivatives of mammal skin (various types of glands and hair derivatives) and
what they are used for.
Know the difference between horns and antlers!
Know the basic types of mammal nutrition (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore) and subgroups
within those (e.g., browser, grazer, gnawer)
Understand the significance of the mammalian microbiome of microbes in the intestine.
This is becoming big news in OUR species, so it’s a good time to learn about it!
Know the meaning/significance of: monoestrous vs. polyestrous; induced ovulation
Mammalia I: Euarchontoglires (You-ark-on-to-gly’-reez)
Know the major characteristics of the Primates, Lagomorphs, Rodents. Know that
Dermopterans (“flying lemurs”) and Scandentians (“tree shrews”) are our closest relatives.
What is the next closely related (outgroup) to the Euarchontoglires? Check the
phylogenetic tree, and see who shares the most recent common ancestor.
Know the main difference between the Old World Monkey, New World Monkey, and Ape
tail. Be able to recognize the names of the different types of ape, and recognize
descriptions of them.
Know the meaning/significance of: hunter, gatherer, paleoanthropology, anthropoid,
hominoid, hominid, the genus Homo
Know the difference between the Multiregional and “Out of Africa” hypotheses of human
evolution.
Know the characteristics that set our species apart from other great apes. Are we the most
highly evolved of all great apes?
Know the meaning/significance of: precocial vs. altricial young, heterochrony,
paedomorphy, ontogeny, morphogenesis, isometric vs. allometric growth, waist:hip ratio in
humans
Recall the important components of embryo development such as zygote, cleavage,
blastula, gastrulation, gastrula
Know the meaning/significance of: stem cell, totipotent vs. pluripotent vs. multipotent
stem cells
Know the basic structure of the vertebrate eye, and be able to recognize the: pupil, iris,
lens, retina, choroid (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choroid. in many nocturnal
species, a layer of the choroid forms the reflective tapetum lucidum, which reflects light
back out of the eye, giving photons a “second chance” to excite a photoreceptor).
Know the main differences between the two types of photoreceptors (rods and cones) and
what you would expect in an animal that has either a rod-dominated or cone-dominated
retina. Which type of photoreceptor confers color vision, and why? Which one is better for
collecting light in dark situations? Do all animals see color the same way?
Mammalia II: - Xenarthra (Zeen-arth’-ra)
What is the commonly known animal in its own taxon, Xenarthra? What makes it different
from other mammals?
Mammalia III: Laurasiatheria (Lawr-ay-see-ah-thir’-ee-a)
Know the six order in this taxon, and the main characteristics that set each one apart from
the others: Artiodactyla, Cetacea, Perissodactyla, Chiroptera, Carnivora, Pholidota
Know the meaning/significance of: horn vs. antler, hooves, ungulate, ruminant, cud
chewing, paraxonic foot
What are the important traits an animal must have to be amenable to domestication?
See how much you’ve learned already?
Amaze your friends!