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Animal Diversity
The aim of this module is to provide an overview of the diversity of animal life: to look at the
evolutionary relationships between animals, to classify the major animal groupings, and to examine
links between form, function, ecological niche and biogeography. Students are expected to become
familiar with the specimens on display in the Cole Museum of Zoology and in the teaching collection
and to be able to identify animals from across taxa.
WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU?
A) Look at the groups listed below. Which are you in, along with
starfish, wasps, cod, pandas and all the animals listed on the right ?
Bilateria
Myxozoa
Cnidaria
Ctenophora
Placozoa
Porifera
D) Which of the animals below is not a bilaterian?
B) What animal is this?
C) What is this odd-looking marine animal?
Scientific naming of animals (Linnaean taxonomy).
Zoologists need to learn the scientific names and classifications of animals.
Every recognized species is given a two-part scientific name, a generic name and
a specific name. The generic name groups a number of animals together, e.g.
Mus domesticus and Mus dunni are both mice but different species. These names
allow zoologists throughout the world to communicate unambiguously about
animal species since there are sets of international rules about how to name
animals. This system was first developed in the 18th century by Carolus
Linnaeaus. It classifies animals into a hierarchy, starting with Kingdoms. These
are divided into Phyla (singular: Phylum) which are divided into Classes, and
they, in turn, into Orders, Families, Genera (singular: Genus), and Species.
Molecular phylogeny
Early taxonomic classifications relied on shared morphological
(outer form and inner structure), behavioural and physiological
characters to group animals together. Today molecular techniques
allow us to sequence stretches of an animal’s DNA. By comparing
the DNA sequences of different organisms we can discover
relationships that cannot otherwise be inferred from morphology.
Because genomes evolve by the gradual accumulation of mutations,
the amount of nucleotide sequence difference between a pair of
genomes from different organisms should indicate how recently
those two genomes shared a common ancestor. Animals that
diverged in the recent past should have fewer differences than
animals whose common ancestor is more ancient.
The Cole Museum of Zoology
The Cole Museum of Zoology
contains some 3500 specimens, 400
of which are arranged in 27 cases in
taxonomic sequence. Students use
museum specimens as a starting
point to study an animal group in
more detail. A CD-ROM based on
The Cole Museum has been
developed to provide in-depth
information and aid the learning
process. Practical exams are held
during the course where students
are presented with specimens to
identify and comment on.
a) Autolytus pachycerus; b) Smilisca phaeota; c) Palomina
prasina.
Students have the opportunity to
design new cases for the Cole
Museum and develop temporary
exhibitions.
Answers: A: Bilateria, bilaterally symmetrical with a body cavity, mouth and anus (includes most
animals); B: A springtail, Podura aquatica (Hexapoda, Collembola); C) Holocephali, the “Chimaeras”,
related to sharks and rays, D) A trick question, they all are; a),Annelida, b) Deuterostoma, c)
Arthropoda. Photos: Steve Hopkin, Greg W. Rouse D. and M. Dimijian.
Comparison of
morphological
and molecular
classifications
of chalcid wasp
species
(Heraty, 2003)