Animal Diversity
Course code: AA202E
Tutor: Lisa Connaire
Venue: Aberystwyth University
25.3.17, 1.4.17 & 8.04.17
Securing a place on the course
To secure a place on the course please ensure that you complete the University enrolment form and return
it signed with the fee. See http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/lifelong-learning/
For current availability of places please phone or e-mail 01970 621 580 or [email protected]
Information enclosed:
 Outline of the course
 Outline of course programme and times
 General information (what to bring)
 Details of the University accredited course
Outline of the course
What makes a bat a mammal? What is the connection between a bird, a cat, a monkey and a human? And how
do we sort them all out? If you want to investigate the differences between groups of animals, then take a
journey through the history of the animal kingdom to discover why life on earth is so diverse. Look at the sorting
and naming of animals, and discover the fascinating, and sometimes surprising, connections between them. If
you want to update yourself with the sheer diversity in the animal kingdom, then this is the course tailor-made
for you! Build on your curiosity and explore further the lives of the many animals that make up the living earth.
The course is run with a mixture of presentations, discussion and practical indoor sessions studying
preserved animal specimens. A series of class lectures using audio-visual aids, games and exercises will
also be undertaken to make the session interesting and worthwhile.
No prior knowledge is required to tackle the course. Whether you are a complete beginner or have previous
experience, you will enjoy acquiring identification skills and knowledge with the help and expertise of the tutor.
You will be encouraged to ask questions and share ideas, to learn not only from the tutor but also from other
members of the group.
The course is fully accredited by Aberystwyth University giving you the opportunity to study at Higher
Education level 1, giving 10 credits which are excellent for professional development.
The majority of the assessed work is embedded in the course and consists of an observational exercise,
an oral presentation supported by visual material during the course and a piece of written record work
to be completed after the course has finished.
Specimens will be provided for your use during the course however you will need your own equipment if
you choose to produce a poster during the course (coloured pens, sellotape, sicssors etc may be useful).
Outline of Programme
The following is an outline of the programme and will depend upon the rate of progress and requirements
of the group.
Day 1
10.00 – 10.30 Informal introductions, course structure and assignments
10.30 – 1.00 Introduction to Taxonomy and animal classification
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
Characteristics of living things - What is an animal?
Principles of Taxonomy – the science of animal classification
o Darwin’s theory of evolution, common descent and natural selection
o What’s in a name? The principles of scientific naming
o 'The Family Tree' - the science of grouping animals
 artificial and natural classifications
LUNCH 1.00 – 2.00
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
2.00 – 5.00 Introduction to the main characteristics and evolutionary status of selected major taxa 
The Invertebrates
o Annelida
o Echinodermata
o Mollusca
Day 2
9.30 – 10.30 Recap and continuation of characteristics and evolutionary status of selected major taxa 
The Invertebrates
o Arthropoda
*10.30 until lunch (continued afterwards if not complete)

Assessment 1 - Practical session on examining morphology and diagnostic features of a
selection of preserved invertebrate animal specimens
LUNCH
*Afternoon session – until 4.30


Phylum Chordata and the early craniata
The Vertebrates
o Amphibia
o Reptilia
DAY 3
10.00 – 10.15 Recap from previous day.
*10.30 – 12.30
 Assessment 2 - Presentations
* these times are subject to changes depending on group size and completion of assessments.
12.30 – 1.30 Lunch
3.00 – 5.00
 The Vertebrates continued
o Aves
o Mammalia
General information (what to bring)
Work will be indoors. The timings will be flexible to allow for progress but we will broadly aim to have
13.00 to 14.00 as a lunch break. Tea and coffee breaks will also be taken. The Main campus has three
different cafeterias where food and drinks are available on payment basis. You are welcome to bring flasks
of hot drinks or cold drinks for short refreshment breaks as the restaurant nearest to IBERS building is
closed over the weekend.
The length of each day is to give you a total of 20 contact hours with the tutor. The maximum number on
the course will be 12.
Food
The Main campus has cafeterias where food and drinks are available to buy.
Equipment
Lecture notes and background material will be provided to you. Please equip yourself with
writing materials and your own scissors, sellotape and glue sticks. Hand lenses and
microscopes will also be available for use on the course. Increasingly a digital camera as
found useful by some students to record sampling techniques and organisms.
Library
Please find details on this page: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/is/help/sell/ about:



How students can activate their computing accounts online
How they can apply for their Aber card online
What kind of ID they need to bring to the enquiry desk if they have not done these
things before coming to the library
For further details or questions about the course content please do not hesitate to contact Paula Hughes,
Science Coordinator, School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth University on 01970 622 682
[email protected]
For further details or questions about the venue, travel and accommodation please contact the
Aberystwyth University conference office [email protected] who may be able to assist you.
Animal Diversity
Module code: XS12810
Level 1 10 Credits
Brief description: This course will introduce students to the taxonomy and evolution of animals, enabling them to
find some order in the huge variety of animal species inhabiting the earth. Evidence for evolutionary relationships
will be discovered through examining the structure, diversity of form and life cycles of major animal groups.
Emphasis will be on major groups, since the subject area is so extensive and each class will involve some practical
work – examining or drawing the groups being studied. This is a core module for the Certificate in Field Ecology and
the Certificate of Conservation Ecology.
Content:
Seminar (1x2 hours) covering:
 Principles of taxonomy, with reference to animals
Workshops (9x2 hours) covering:
 Taxonomic hierarchies, classification schemes, with reference to animals
 Characteristics and evolutionary status of the major invertebrate taxa including
Annelida, Mollusca, Echinodermata and Arthropoda.
 Characteristics and evolutionary status of the major vertebrate taxa.
 Reproduction life cycles / strategies in selected major animal taxa.
Adaptations for aquatic and terrestrial existence and specific habitats
On completion of this module, students should be able to.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the major taxonomic groupings in the animal kingdom and their
evolutionary status.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the morphology and diagnostic features of major animal taxa.
3. Describe the reproductive life cycles/strategies in selected major animal taxa.
4. Discuss adaptations and survival strategies of a range of animals.
Type of assessment
% weighting
Learning
Outcome(s)
Poster/visual display of the life cycle and survival strategies of one
major animal group.
20%
3, 4
20%
Oral presentation of the poster/visual display
Two short written assignments based on the taxonomy, morphology
(2 x
and diagnostic features of major animal taxa (2 x 900 words).
60%
3, 4
30%) 1, 2, 4
Suggested Additional Reading List for Animal Diversity
Audesirk, T. Et al (2009) Life on Earth (5th edition). Pearson Education.
Carroll, SB et al. (2001) From DNA to Diversity. Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design
Cleveland, P. Hickman et al. Integrated Principles of Zoology. 7th Edition Times Mirror/Mosby College Publishing
Holland, P. (2011). The Animal Kingdom. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. (£7.99)
Louw, G.N. (1993)Physiological Animal Ecology. Longman Scientific.
Moore, J., 2001. An Introduction to the Invertebrates. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. **** this is a great
little book, full of drawn diagrams, I got a copy for 80p on Amazon****
Palmer, Douglas. (2009) Evolution: The Story of Life. Octopus publishing Group
Penchanik, J. A. Biology of the Invertebrates. 3rd Ed WM. C. Brown Publishers
Southwood, R. (2003) The Story of Life, Oxford University Press
Wilmer, P., Stone, G., & Johnstone, I (2000) Environmental Physiology of Animals. Blackwell Science. (this is also
accessible as an e-book through the AU Primo library)
Wilson, E.O. (1992) The Diversity of Life. W.W.Norton & Co, New York and London
(Oct 2016)