Mammalogy: Biology 5370
Syllabus for Fall 2005
Objective: This lecture course provides an overview of the evolution, diversity, structure and function
and ecology of mammals. It will introduce you to the major groups of mammals and the
interplay between structure and function over evolutionary time.
Instructor:
Eric Rickart: 356 (office), 318 (collection lab) GTB (UMNH) 581-6927
rickart@umnh.utah.edu
Office hours by appointment
Teaching Assistants:
Lora Richards 581-7086 lrichards@biology.utah.edu
Adam Nelson 585-9678 redatoms@hotmail.com
Lectures:
T Th: 9:10 -10:30am, EMCB 103
Textbook: Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology (2nd ed.) Feldhammer et al
Prerequisites: Evolution and Diversity of Life BIOL 2010, Cell BIOL 2020, Genetics BIOL 2030,
Comparative Physiology BIOL 3320, Comparative Morphology BIOL 3310, Developmental
Biology BIOL 3230, Ecology and Evolution BIOL 3410. If you have not completed at least 2 of
these classes, see the instructor.
Attendance and lecture notes: You are expected to attend lectures and take your own lecture notes.
Iyou miss a lecture, obtain notes from someone else in the class. Class handouts will be
available (see below), but additional lecture notes will not be provided by the instructor or
teaching assistants.
Handouts: Extra handouts from lecture will be available in Building 44 after each lecture day.
Electronic Copies: Electronic copies of all handouts and Powerpoint presentations will be stored in a
read only (and print only) file on the Biology server. To access this material go to:
http://courses.biology.utah.edu/
Click on Biology 5370
Material will be organized by lecture (lecture1, lecture1 handouts, etc.)
Grading: The final grade is based on a total of 650 points, including four exams (100 pts. each),
proposal for writing assignment (50 pts) writing assignment (150 pts), reviews of writing
assignments (50 pts).
Assignment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Proposal for Paper
Exam 3
Paper ( 3 copies)
Reviews (2)
Revision of paper (optional)**
Exam 4 (final)
TOTAL
Total Points
100
100
50
100
100
50
50
100
650
No grades will be dropped. There will not be exercises for extra credit.
Exams will be based on lecture material. The best study guide for the exams will be your own
lecture notes. Exams will include short essay, data analysis, multiple choice, and problemsolving questions. The last exam will be given during finals week, but it will be a regular exam.
There will be not a comprehensive final.
Exams will be graded as quickly as possible and returned to you in class. Exam keys will also
be posted in Building 44. Exams that are not picked up in class will be available in Building 44.
There will be no makeup exams. In the event of a true emergency you will need to OBTAIN
WRITTEN, VERIFIABLE DOCUMENTATION of the emergency and contact the instructors as
soon as you are able and we will try to work something out with you.
Writing Assignment: There will be a single writing assignment for the class that will include a
written proposal (50 pts), first submission (100 pts), and a final submission (50 pts). Each
student will anonymously review the writing assignments of 2 other students (25 pts each).
The writing assignment will be a review paper on a topic of your choice. More details will be
given in class.
Regrading: Questions regarding exam grades will be considered ONLY if received in writing,
within one week of the day on which exams are returned to class. Requests should be directed
to the teaching assistants.
Course Drop Policy: The withdrawal policy is the same as the University of Utah policy
described in the Class Schedule. Friday Sept. 2nd is the last day to drop with no tuition and
no notation on the transcript. Tuesday Sept. 6th is the last day students can elect the CR/NC or
audit option. Friday Oct. 21st is the last day students can withdraw, but tuition will be
assessed and you will receive a W on your transcript. Verify with the registrar as these dates
are subject to change.
Withdrawal from the course after Oct. 21st requires special permission from the instructor. It
will NOT be allowed except in cases of significant medical or personal emergency that must be
documented by a medical professional or other relevant person.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): In accordance with University policy with respect to
ADA matters and students with other identifiable disabilities, we will provide additional
examination time as needed and appropriate. Students with such needs should identify
themselves to the course instructor at least one week in advance of the first examination.
Additionally you must provide a written statement of how we can assist you in completing
course requirements. Students requiring additional time with teaching assistants are
encouraged to attend as many discussion sections as needed and also to arrange to meet with
the teaching assistants or instructor during office hours.
Classification of Recent Mammals to ordinal level
Class MAMMALIA
Subclass - PROTOTHERIA
Order - Monotremata - echidnas and platypus; 3 species
Subclass - THERIA
Infraclass Metatheria (Marsupials)
Order Didelphimorphia - opossums; 63 species
Order Paucituberculata - rat oppossums; 5 species
Order Microbiotheria - Monito del Monte, Ilaca; 1 species
Order Dasyuromorphia - extinct Tasmanian wolf, numbat, dasyures etc.; 63 sp.
Order Peramelemorphia - bandicoots; 21 species
Order Notoryctemorphia - marsupial "mole"; 2 species
Order Diprotodontia - koala, wombats, kangaroos; possums; 117 species
Infraclass Eutheria (Placentalia)
Order Xenarthra – sloths, armadillos, anteaters; 29 species
Order Pholidota - pangolins; 7 species
Order Insectivora - shrews, tenrecs, moles, hedgehogs; 428 species
Order Scandentia - tree shrews; 19 species
Order Dermoptera - Colugos; 2 species
Order Chiroptera - Bats; 925 species
Order Primates - lemurs, monkeys and apes; 233 species
Order Carnivora - cats, dogs, bears, seals, raccoons etc.; 271 species
Order Cetacea - whales and dolphins; 78 species
Order Sirenia - dugongs and manatees; 5 species
Order Proboscidea - elephants; 2 species
Order Hyracoidea - hyraxes; 6 species
Order Perissodactyla - horses, tapirs & rhinos; 18 species
Order Tubulidentata - Aardvark; 1 species
Order Artiodactyla - pigs, hippos, camels, bovids, antelopes, deer; 220 sp.
Order Macroscelidea - elephant shrews; 15 species
Order Rodentia - rodents; 2021 species
Order Lagomorpha - hares, rabbits and pikas; 80 species
Total (in 1993)
4629 species of Recent mammals
Wilson, D. L. & D. M. Reeder. 1993. Mammal Species of the World. Smithsonian Press
Some common misconceptions
Mammals are “modern”
Mammals are “most advanced”
Mammals are “dominant”
First hominids
Diversification of modern mammals
Extinction of dinosaurs
Earliest mammals & earliest dinosaurs
Earliest therapsids
Earliest pelycosaurs
Earliest amniotes
Earliest amhpibians
Jawed fish
Earliest vertebrates
Cladistics (Phylogenetic Systematics) –
An objective method of determining evolutionary relationships of organisms (phylogeny),
based on comparative analysis of characters (morphological, genetic, behavioral, etc).
Basic terminology:
Phenetics – study of evolutionary relationships based on overall similarity
Cladistics – study of evolutionary relationships based on derived similarity
Character (or trait) – any discrete feature or attribute that exhibits variation
Character state – expression of a particular character (e.g., presence,
absence)
In group – group of organisms being studied
Out group – related group outside that being studied (used as a point of
reference to determine character polarity)
Character polarity – direction of evolutionary change in a character
Primitive character (plesiomorphy) – character state is primitive or
“generalized” (shared by both the ingroup and outgroup)
Derived character (apomorphy) – character state is advanced or “specialized”
(differs from the outgroup)
Synapomorphy (shared derived trait) – derived trait shared by 2 or more
groups
Cladogram -- a graphical representation of evolutionary relationships
Monophyletic group (clade, or “natural group”) – a group of sharing a
common ancestor. Represents a complete evolutionary lineage.
Polyphyletic -- group with more than one ancestor; an “artificial” group.
Paraphyletic -- group that does not contain all descendants of a common
ancestor; an incomplete group
Node – branching point on a cladogram
Sister –groups – groups on either side of a node (i.e., closest relatives)
Monophyletic groups
Polyphyletic
Paraphyletic
VERTEBRATA
GNATHOSTOMA
TETRAPODA
AMNIOTA
SAUROPSIDA
CLASSIFICATION OF AMNIOTES
TRADITIONAL
PHYLOGENETIC
AMNIOTE RELATIONSHIPS
.
Synapsida
AMNIOTE RELATIONSHIPS
Ancestral amniote skull types
ANAPSID
“stem reptiles”
turtles
EURYAPSID
Extinct marine
reptiles
SYNAPSID
DIAPSID
Archosaurs
Lizards & Snakes
Amniote skulls
SYNAPSIDS
M
Q
Ar
An
D
Dimetrodon
Titanophoneus
Synapsid evolution
Synapsid evolution
Mammals
Pelycosaurs
“primitive” mammal-like reptiles
ORDER PELYCOSAURIA
Ophiacodonts
mid Pennsylvanian – early Permian
Varanopseids
Permian
Caseids
Permian
Edaphosaurs
late Pennsylvanian – early Permian
Sphenacodonts
late Pennsylvanian – mid Permian
Pelycosaur cladogram
Dimetrodon