Zoology
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The objectives of the teaching are to provide basic knowledge on animal organisms related to functional biology, evolutionary biology, biodiversity, systematics and phylogeny. In particular, the teaching aims to provide students with appropriate competences and notions related to unitarity and complexity of animal life, structural and functional adaptations correlated to different environments, evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships among animal groups, as well as to zoological terminology. Finally, a further educational goal is to provide methodological skills related to identification of taxa, sampling and collection techniques, comparative analysis of macro- and microscopic anatomy and employment of specific instruments.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the teaching the student should have acquired an appropriate basic knowledge of animal organisms and be able to employ the related terminology and to use specific methodological skills (identification of animal taxa, sampling and collection techniques, comparative analysis of macro and microscopic anatomy). In particular, the activities that will define the development of these skills are represented by the extensive employment of real life documents presented during lectures and more specifically by practical labs that will allow the student to also acquire an indispensable manual skill for progressing in his university and professional career.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
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
Surname A-L
Responsible
Lesson period
year
BIOS-03/A - Zoology - University credits: 12
Practical exercises with elements of theory: 12 hours
Lessons: 88 hours
Lessons: 88 hours
Professors:
Gabrieli Paolo, Pennati Roberta
Surname M-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Part one: General Zoology
Fundamental principles of animal life. Body architecture, structures and main functions.
Nutrition; respiration; circulation; homeostasis (excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation); protection and support; movement and locomotion; nervous system and sensory receptors; endocrine system. Reproduction: modalities, significance and implications. Embryonic and post-embryonic development.
Animals and environment. Animal adaptations to different environments and life styles.
Inter-specific and intra-specific interactions: competition, predation, symbiosis, parasitism.
Phylogeny and evolution.
Principles of zoological nomenclature, criteria of classification and the identification of the organisms.
Part two: Systematic Zoology
Introduction to animal systematic.
Unicellular organisms. Protozoa: origin, organization, reproduction, and sexuality. Notes on systematics. Parasitic protozoa.
The first animals: Parazoa (Porifera and Placozoa).
Metazoans: evolutionary novelties, origin of complexity, planes of symmetry, organs and systems. Porifera: organization and systematics.
Diploblastic metazoans: organization and systematics of cnidarians.
The first triploblastic animals: ctenophores.
Lophotrochozoa protostomes. General information and systematics of platyhelminthes and other acoelomate Lophotrochozoa; rotifers and other pseudocoelomate Lophotrochozoa; and molluscs, annelids, lophophorates (brachiopods, bryozoans, and phoronids), and other coelomate Lophotrochozoa.
Ecdysozoa protostomes. General information and systematics of nematodes and other pseudocoelomate Ecdysozoa; and of coelomate Ecdysozoa (tardigrades, onychophorans, and arthropods). Special attention will be given to mandibulate arthropods (myriapods), crustaceans, and hexapods (which include insects — the most species-rich group of animals on Earth).
Deuterostomes. General information and systematics of Ambulacraria (echinoderms and hemichordates).
Deuterostomes. General information and systematics of chordates, with particular attention to vertebrates, with identification criteria for all classes.
Fundamental principles of animal life. Body architecture, structures and main functions.
Nutrition; respiration; circulation; homeostasis (excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation); protection and support; movement and locomotion; nervous system and sensory receptors; endocrine system. Reproduction: modalities, significance and implications. Embryonic and post-embryonic development.
Animals and environment. Animal adaptations to different environments and life styles.
Inter-specific and intra-specific interactions: competition, predation, symbiosis, parasitism.
Phylogeny and evolution.
Principles of zoological nomenclature, criteria of classification and the identification of the organisms.
Part two: Systematic Zoology
Introduction to animal systematic.
Unicellular organisms. Protozoa: origin, organization, reproduction, and sexuality. Notes on systematics. Parasitic protozoa.
The first animals: Parazoa (Porifera and Placozoa).
Metazoans: evolutionary novelties, origin of complexity, planes of symmetry, organs and systems. Porifera: organization and systematics.
Diploblastic metazoans: organization and systematics of cnidarians.
The first triploblastic animals: ctenophores.
Lophotrochozoa protostomes. General information and systematics of platyhelminthes and other acoelomate Lophotrochozoa; rotifers and other pseudocoelomate Lophotrochozoa; and molluscs, annelids, lophophorates (brachiopods, bryozoans, and phoronids), and other coelomate Lophotrochozoa.
Ecdysozoa protostomes. General information and systematics of nematodes and other pseudocoelomate Ecdysozoa; and of coelomate Ecdysozoa (tardigrades, onychophorans, and arthropods). Special attention will be given to mandibulate arthropods (myriapods), crustaceans, and hexapods (which include insects — the most species-rich group of animals on Earth).
Deuterostomes. General information and systematics of Ambulacraria (echinoderms and hemichordates).
Deuterostomes. General information and systematics of chordates, with particular attention to vertebrates, with identification criteria for all classes.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisite is required.
Teaching methods
Teaching modalities are based on frontal lectures supported by Power Point presentations originally produced by the teacher. Students are invited to actively participate with informal questions and/or comments related to the treated topics in order to acquire critical capacities. The frontal lectures are complemented by a series of practical labs focused on the analysis of functional anatomy of some representative models of the main phyla. They consist of: microscopical observations of specimens, in vivo observations, dissections of model-animals. Course attendance is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Text books:
Ballarin L et al. Manuale di Zoologia. Piccin.
Hickman CP Jr., Roberts LS, Keen SL, Larson A, Eisenhour DJ. Zoologia. McGrawHill.
Casiraghi M, de Eguileor M, Cerrano C, Puce S. Zoologia. Utet Università.
Moreover, the students have access to both the digital form of the slides presented during the frontal lectures and the illustration of the practical activities on the website MyAriel. https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=7407
Ballarin L et al. Manuale di Zoologia. Piccin.
Hickman CP Jr., Roberts LS, Keen SL, Larson A, Eisenhour DJ. Zoologia. McGrawHill.
Casiraghi M, de Eguileor M, Cerrano C, Puce S. Zoologia. Utet Università.
Moreover, the students have access to both the digital form of the slides presented during the frontal lectures and the illustration of the practical activities on the website MyAriel. https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=7407
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists of two parts.
1- An intermediate oral exam on the first part of the course (General Zoology). Access to the intermediate oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the first semester. The evaluation criteria include: the degree of acquired knowledge, the student should be able to describe the different animal structures and functions as well as the relationships with their environment, the ability to appropriately present the topics, the use of a correct terminology.
2- A final oral examination (Systematic Zoology). Access to the final oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the second semester. Students should have passed the previous test to be admitted to the final exam. During this examination the student must be able to describe an animal placing it in the context of the modern systematics. Moreover, the ability to appropriately expose the topics and to employ the correct terminology will be evaluated.
Final evaluation is expressed on a scale of thirty and is calculated as the weighted mean between the different scores.
Starting from the end of the second semester, it will be possible to take both exams, together or during different exam sessions, but remembering that to be admitted to the Systematic zoology exam, students should have passed the General zoology exam.
1- An intermediate oral exam on the first part of the course (General Zoology). Access to the intermediate oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the first semester. The evaluation criteria include: the degree of acquired knowledge, the student should be able to describe the different animal structures and functions as well as the relationships with their environment, the ability to appropriately present the topics, the use of a correct terminology.
2- A final oral examination (Systematic Zoology). Access to the final oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the second semester. Students should have passed the previous test to be admitted to the final exam. During this examination the student must be able to describe an animal placing it in the context of the modern systematics. Moreover, the ability to appropriately expose the topics and to employ the correct terminology will be evaluated.
Final evaluation is expressed on a scale of thirty and is calculated as the weighted mean between the different scores.
Starting from the end of the second semester, it will be possible to take both exams, together or during different exam sessions, but remembering that to be admitted to the Systematic zoology exam, students should have passed the General zoology exam.
BIOS-03/A - Zoology - University credits: 12
Practical exercises with elements of theory: 12 hours
Lessons: 88 hours
Lessons: 88 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment.
Office - Tower A, ground floor - Department of Biosciences, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano