Chapter 34 Vertebrate Evolution and Diversity
Objectives
| Invertebrate Chordates and the Origin of Vertebrates | |||
| 1. | Distinguish between the phyla of deuterostomes. | ||
| 2. | Describe the four derived traits that define the phylum Chordata. | ||
| 3. | Distinguish among the three subphyla of the phylum Chordata and give examples of each. | ||
| 4. | Discuss the evidence for and against Garstang’s hypothesis that vertebrates had a tunicate-like ancestor. | ||
| 5. | Explain what lancelets suggest about the evolution of the chordate brain. | ||
| Craniates Are Chordates with a Head | |||
| 6. | Discuss the importance of genetic duplication in chordate evolution. | ||
| 7. | Explain the fate of the neural crest cells in craniate development. | ||
| 8. | Explain what Haikouella and Haikouichthys tell us about craniate evolution. | ||
| Vertebrates Are Craniates with a Backbone | |||
| 9. | Describe the way of life and unique characters of the lamprey. | ||
| 10. | Describe conodonts, and explain why they are considered vertebrates. | ||
| 11. | Describe the trends in mineralized structures in early vertebrates. | ||
| Gnathostomes Are Vertebrates with Jaws | |||
| 12. | Explain one hypothesis for the evolution of the jaws of gnathostomes. | ||
| 13. | List the shared, derived characters that characterize gnathostomes. | ||
| 14. | Describe the evidence that suggests that the loss of bone in Chondrichthyes is a derived feature. | ||
| 15. | Describe the features of sharks that are adaptive for their active, predatory lifestyle. | ||
| 16. | Describe and distinguish between Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes, noting the main traits of each group. | ||
| 17. | Identify and describe the main subgroups of Osteichthyes. | ||
| 18. | Name the three living lineages of lobe-fins. | ||
| Tetrapods Are Gnathostomes with Limbs and Feet | |||
| 19. | Define and distinguish between gnathostomes, tetrapods, and amniotes. | ||
| 20. | Explain what Acanthostega suggests about the origin of tetrapods. | ||
| 21. | Describe the common traits of amphibians and distinguish among the three orders of living amphibians. | ||
| Amniotes Have Amniotic Eggs | |||
| 22. | Describe an amniotic egg and explain its significance in the evolution of reptiles and mammals. | ||
| 23. | Explain why the reptile clade includes birds. | ||
| 24. | Describe a number of reptile features that are adaptive for life on land. | ||
| 25. | Explain why non-bird reptiles should be called “ectothermic” rather than “cold-blooded.” | ||
| 26. | Define and describe the parareptiles. | ||
| 27. | Distinguish between the lepidosaurs and the archosaurs. | ||
| 28. | Compare the interpretations of dinosaurs as ectotherms or endotherms. | ||
| 29. | Describe the specialized adaptations of snakes that make them successful predators. | ||
| 30. | List the modifications of birds that are adaptive for flight. | ||
| 31. | Summarize the evidence supporting the hypothesis that birds evolved from theropod dinosaur ancestors. | ||
| 32. | Explain the significance of Archaeopteryx. | ||
| 33. | Describe the characteristic derived characters of mammals. | ||
| 34. | Describe the evolutionary origin of mammals. | ||
| 35. | Distinguish among monotreme, marsupial, and eutherian mammals. | ||
| 36. | Describe the adaptive radiation of mammals during the Cretaceous and early Tertiary periods. | ||
| 37. | Compare and contrast the four main evolutionary clades of eutherian mammals. | ||
| Primates and the Evolution of Homo sapiens | |||
| 38. | Describe the general characteristics of primates. Note in particular the features associated with an arboreal existence. | ||
| 39. | Distinguish between the two subgroups of primates and describe their early evolutionary relationship. | ||
| 40. | Distinguish between hominoid and hominid. | ||
| 41. | Explain what Sahelanthropus tells us about hominid evolution. | ||
| 42. | Describe the evolution of Homo sapiens from australopith ancestors. Clarify the order in which distinctive human traits aro | ||
