Vertebrate Paleontology
A.Y. 2018/2019
Learning objectives
Acquire basic knowledge about the evolution of bony fishes and some groups of Mesozoic tetrapods, and the main features of the evolution of vertebrates.
Expected learning outcomes
Recognize the key steps of vertebrates evolution.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
An outline of phylogeny and methodologies.
AGNATHA. The first vertebrates.
FISHES. Origin of the main groups. The Devonian: their golden age. The Permian-Carboniferous: Chondrichthyes. Actinopterygians: teleost radiation in the Cenozoic.
Fundamental plane of the skeleton of tetrapods.
AMPHIBIANS. The colonization of the mainland: structural problems. The first Amphibians; origin of the modern amphibians; from amphibians to reptiles.
The AMNIOTES (reptiles, birds, mammals): definition and relationships.
General skeletal characters of REPTILES.
Paleozoic anapsids, turtles.
First diapsids, lepidosauromorphs and lepidosaurs, arcosauromorph and archosaurs. The tarsus of archosaurs.
The origin of BIRDS and large Cenozoic avian predators.
From SYNAPSIDS to MAMMALS, pelycosaurs, therapsida, cynodonts; paleobiological implications.
The radiation of Cenozoic marsupials and placental mammals; adaptive convergence; the great American interchange.
Extinctions and radiations.
The traces of vertebrates, footprints, predation, reproduction.
Fossil Lagerstätten and vertebrates.
AGNATHA. The first vertebrates.
FISHES. Origin of the main groups. The Devonian: their golden age. The Permian-Carboniferous: Chondrichthyes. Actinopterygians: teleost radiation in the Cenozoic.
Fundamental plane of the skeleton of tetrapods.
AMPHIBIANS. The colonization of the mainland: structural problems. The first Amphibians; origin of the modern amphibians; from amphibians to reptiles.
The AMNIOTES (reptiles, birds, mammals): definition and relationships.
General skeletal characters of REPTILES.
Paleozoic anapsids, turtles.
First diapsids, lepidosauromorphs and lepidosaurs, arcosauromorph and archosaurs. The tarsus of archosaurs.
The origin of BIRDS and large Cenozoic avian predators.
From SYNAPSIDS to MAMMALS, pelycosaurs, therapsida, cynodonts; paleobiological implications.
The radiation of Cenozoic marsupials and placental mammals; adaptive convergence; the great American interchange.
Extinctions and radiations.
The traces of vertebrates, footprints, predation, reproduction.
Fossil Lagerstätten and vertebrates.
GEO/01 - PALEONTOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Lombardo Cristina Rita Serenella, Renesto Silvio Claudio
Shifts:
Professor:
Renesto Silvio Claudio
parte 1
Professor:
Lombardo Cristina Rita Serenellaparte 2
Professor:
Renesto Silvio ClaudioProfessor(s)