OVERVIEW

Active participation to proposed training activities (lectures, technical visits and field activities) together with the individual study will allow the student to

- understand the main biological characteristics of amphibians and reptiles (ecology, distribution)

- understand the evolutionary relationships of these animals

- apply the knowledge to the identification of amphibians and reptiles of Liguria

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Active participation to proposed training activities (lectures, technical visits and field activities) together with the individual study will allow the student to

- understand the main biological characteristics of amphibians and reptiles (ecology, distribution)

- understand the evolutionary relationships of these animals

- apply the knowledge to the identification of amphibians and reptiles of Liguria

PREREQUISITES

The following basic knowledge is necessary to effectively address the teaching content:

• nomenclature and zoological systematics
• anatomy of amphbians and reptiles
• evolution of amphbians and reptiles

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of lectures, for a total of about 14/15 hours, practical field activity, technical field visit to the Natural History Museum and for 4/5 hours, for a total of 18/20 hours. Attendance at lessons and practical activities is not mandatory. The laboratory is held by the official  teacher. In the practical laboratory activities, students in pairs have at their disposal a binocular stereoscope and personal copies of the dichotomous recognition keys (the latter supplied by the teacher). Students must identify preserved specimens of amphbians and reptiles of Liguria. Each identification is immediately confirmed by the teacher. The organization and dates of laboratory

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

General introduction (structure and contents of the course; Aul@ web and resources, importance of the technical visits and laboratories, methods of examination)

Characteristics of amphibians and reptiles

Egg structure

Fecundation

Parental cares: definition

Active and passive nest defense

Egg and larvae transport

Juvenile feeding

Egg brooding

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lecture slides are available on Aulaweb.

Recommended books

Zoologia dei Vertebrati. Pough, Janis e Heiser (2001). CEA Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Biology of amphibians. Diuellman, Trueb, (1994). McGraw Hill Publishing.

Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Vitt, Caldwell (2013). Academic Press.

The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians. Wells (2007). University of Chicago, Press.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SEBASTIANO SALVIDIO (President)

GIORGIO BAVESTRELLO

ANDREA COSTA

LORIS GALLI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral discussion of the lectured topics.

There will be 2 exams in the winter session (mid-January-February) and 5 in the summer session (June, July and September). No extraordinary exams will be granted outside the periods indicated, with the exception of out-of-course students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam consists of an oral discussion of the lectured topics.

Exam schedule