Adaptations to terrestrial life of Artropoda and comparison with Anellida and Molusca. Adaptation to freshwater. Deuterostomata: general, phylogenetic relationship with Protostomata and radiata. Artropoda. Chelicerata. Miriapoda. Crostacea. Esapoda. Echinodermata. Cordata.
Ruppert, Fox, Barnes, Zoologia degli Invertebrati, Piccin
Brusca e Brusca, Invertebrati, Zanichelli (Invertebrates, Sinauer)
Learning Objectives
Knowledge on the main living invertebrate, their adaptation to the environment, morphology and physiology, reproduction and life cycles, animal diversity with relation to environmental features. Acquisition of a critical knowledge on issues linked to the study of animals both in the field and laboratory. Knowledge on animal evolution and the main evolutionary theories in an historical context as well as in the actual scientific discussion. Guiding line of the course are the understanding of the adaptation of animals to the environment and evolutionary constraints.
Adaptation to terrestrial life: comparisons among Artropoda, Anellida and Mollusca. Adaptation to life in the water of Artropoda and Mollusca. Colours of the Invertebrates.
Systematics
Deuterostomata: general; phylogenetics relationships with Protostomata and Radiata. Hints on Chetognata and Emicordata. Echinodermata: general, Crinoidea, Asteroidea, Echinoidea, Ofiurodea, Oloturoidea; phylogenetics relationships among classes. Chordata, general. Tunicata. Cefalocordata and hints on Conodonta.
Artropoda: general, evolution, phylogenetics relationships with other Phyla. Artropoda of Cambrian . Hints on Anomalocarida, Trilobita, Euripterida. Chelicerata: hints on Merostomata e Pantopoda. Aracnida: Spiders, Scorpions, Opilionids, Mites; hints on other orders. Crustacea: general, hints on Cefalocarida e Remipedia. Malacostraca, general; Decapoda, Eufasiacea, Isopoda, Anfipoda, hints on other orders. Main orders of Entomostraca: Copepoda, Cirripeda, Cladocera. Hints on Onicofora and Tardigrads. Miriapoda: Diplopoda, Chilopoda, hints on other orders. Esapoda: general, phylogenetics relationships, evolution of flight. Hints on Apterigota and Pterigota.