Short Course- Marine Vertebrates

Look Inside

Self Paced 20-hour course to help you understand more about Marine Animals

If you are interested in learning more about marine vertebrates, this short course will provide you with the essentials to understand more about marine reptiles, fishes, sea birds and marine mammals.

This course is a great introduction to learning the taxonomy of marine vertebrates, understanding different groups, different ways to identify characteristics of marine vertebrates and more.

If you are passionate about marine life and want to learn more, this course is a great place to start.

CONTENTS

LESSON 1 CLASSIFICATION OF ORGANISMS
Introduction
Taxonomy: Grouping Biological Organisms
Classification
Phylum Chordata
Non Chordate Animals
Review what you have been learning

Lesson 2 Fishes
Infraphylum Agnatha
Class Cephalaspidomorphi (Lampreys)
Class Myxini (Hagfishes)
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Elasmobranchii
Superorder Batoidea - Rays and Skates
The Whale Shark (Rhincodon Typus)
Class Holocephali – Chimaeras
Osteichthyes (bony fishes)
Biological characteristics of bony fish
Superclass Sarcopterygii
Superclass Actinopterygii – ray-finned fish
Class Chondrostei
Class Holostei
Class Teleostei
Examples of families of bony fish
‘Bony’ Fish anatomy and physiology
Lesson 2 additional reading
Review what you have been learning

Lesson 3 Sea Birds
GULLS – ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
Terns - Family Sternidae
Auks – Family Alicidae
Puffins (Family Alicadae)
Albatrosses – Family Diomedeidae
Petrels – Family Procellariidae
Pelicans – Family Pelecanidae
Gannets – Family Suidae
Cormorants – Family Phalacrocoracidae
Boobies – Family Sulidae
Frigate birds – Family Fregatidae
Tropic birds – Family Phaethontidae
Penguins
Review what you have been learning

Lesson 4 Marine Reptiles
Sea Turtles (Superfamily Cheloniodea)
Sea Snakes (Order Squamata)
Crocodilians (Order Crocodilia)
Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Classification of Sea Turtles
Family Dermochelyidae
Lesson 4 additional reading
Family Cheloniidae
Crocodiles
Differences between Gharials, Alligators, and Crocodiles
Review what you have been learning

Lesson 5 Marine Mammals
Order Cetacea - Whales
Order Sirenia
Order Carnivora
Pinnipeds
Family Mustelidae
Family Ursidae
Lesson 5 additional reading
Classification (Taxonomy) of Cetaceans
Suborder Mysticeti (Baleen Whales)
Suborder Odontoceti (Toothed Cetaceans)
Dolphins
Whales
Review what you have been learning
Final Assessment

How does this course work?

You can enrol at any time.

Once you have paid for the course, you will be able to start straight away.

Study when and where you like. Work through at your own pace.

You can download your study-guide to your smart phone, tablet or laptop to read offline.

There are automated self-assessment tests you can complete at the end of each lesson. You can attempt these as many times as you wish and each time, upon completion, you can see your results. You will need internet access to complete the self assessment tests.

At the end of the course, you are presented with a large assessment which can be attempted online, anywhere, anytime. If you achieve a 60% pass in the exam; you immediately receive a downloadable certificate of completion with your name on it. If you do not achieve a 60% pass rate, you can contact us to re-sit your exam.

email- [email protected]

Contact us at anytime if you have any issues with the course. [email protected]