animal behaviour 1

taxonomy/systematics

theories/techniques of naming, describing, classifying organisms

morphological systematics

FORM (anatomy = internal features) and (morphology = external features)

molecular systematics

division of animals based on DNA (phylogenomics)

ichthyology

study of fish

herpetology

study of amphibians and reptiles

ornithology

study of birds

mammalogy

study of mammals

cetology

study of whales, dolphins etc (sub category of mammalogy)

vertebrate tetrapods

amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals

vertebrate fish

jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, bony fish

anamniotes

lay eggs that lack a hard shell, are gelatinous

amniotes

lay eggs that have a hard shell, with gelatinous mass on the inside

poikilothermic/ectothermic

incapable of regulating their own body temperature

homeothermic/endothermic

capable of regulating own temperature (because of advanced hypothalamus)

Poikilothermic

large variations in body temp

homeothermic

small variations in body temp

ectothermic

body heat regulated by environment

endothermic

heat regulated by metabolism

agnatha

Lampreys and hagfish (fish)

Chondrichthyes

cartilaginous fishes (ratfishes, chimaeras, sharks, rays)

Osteichthyes

bony fishes

amphibians

caecilians, frogs + toads, salamanders + newts

reptiles

turtles +tortoises, alligators +crocodiles, warm lizards, snakes, tuataras

synapsids

group of extinct reptiles where mammals evolved from

prototherians

more ‘basic’ mammals, platypus and echidnas

metatherians (marsupials)

mammals primarily distributed in Australia, possessing a pouch where underdeveloped babies are raised. kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, etc.

eutherians (placentals)

(most mammals) cows, dogs, horses, humans

altricial

animals that are born/hatched underdeveloped (mice, cats, dogs). tend to be nidicolous, (incapable of moving after birth)

precocial

animals that are born almost fully developed, simply grow in size over maturation. tendency to be nidifugous, (can move after birth)

Strepsirhini

primitive, mainly nocturnal primates

Haplorhini

modern, mainly diurnal primates (Callitrichidae: Marmosets, Tamarins) (Hylobatidae: Gibbons) (Hominidae: Great apes and humans)