BIOLOGY
306 COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY
LAB
# 1
THE
PHYLUM CHORDATA
I. Read
the preliminary pages entitled "To the student" in your lab
manual. Learn the terms in bold
type on the second page of this section.
II.
CHORDATE CLASSIFICATION
For this laboratory assignment (and Biology 3064 in
general) refer to the synoptic classification of chordates, Appendix in Kent
& Carr, p. 472-474, and the handout given in lecture.
III.
ANATOMY OF THE PROTOCHORDATES, p. 3-12 (Wischnitzer)
A. SUBPHYLUM
CEPHALOCHORDATA p. 3-8
Examine: fluid preserved specimens, whole mount
slides, and cross section slides of Branchiostoma lanceolatum
(amphioxus). Learn labels on Figs.
1-2, 1-3, 1-4 (omit HatschekÕs pit and branchial rod) 1-6, and 1-7 (omit both
Insets as well as cardinal vein and dorsal aorta).
B. SUBPHYLUM
UROCHORDATA p. 8-10
1. Class
Ascidiacea - tunicates and sea
squirts
Examine: specimens of Ciona (larva) and Molgula
(whole mounts). ID only.
C. SUBPHYLUM (=?PHYLUM) HEMICHORDATA p. 10-12
1. Class
Enteropneusta - acorn worms
Examine: Dolichoglossus whole
mounts and fluid preserved specimens.
ID only.
IV. SUBPHYLUM VERTEBRATA
A. Class Cephalaspidomorphi, ANATOMY OF THE LAMPREY p. 19-27
1. Examine:
specimens of Petromyzon marinus (adult) external morphology,
mid-sagittal section, serial cross sections. Be able to identify structures from Figs 1-2, 1-3 and 1-5
through 1-9. OMIT dorsal
aorta, ventral aorta, sinus venosus, ventricle and
inferior
jugular vein from Fig. 1-5.
2. Examine:
specimens of P. marinus, ammocoetes larvae whole mount
slides. ID only.
B.
Class Myxini Ð Examine:
hagfish specimens
C.
Class Chondrichthyes -
Cartilaginous fishes
Subclass Elasmobranchii - Elasmobranchs have "naked"gill slits
Order
Squaliformes - sharks (examine specimen - you'll see more next week!)
Order
Rajiformes - skates and rays (examine specimens)
Subclass
Holocephali - Holocephalans are
operculate
Order
Chimaeriformes - Examine: pictures of Chimera
(ratfish)
D. Class
Sarcopterygii -
lobe-finned fishes
Superorder
Crossopterygii Ð
coelacanths
Examine: pictures of Latimeria
Superorder
Dipnoi - lung fishes
Examine: pictures of lung fish
E. Class Actinopterygii - ray-finned fishes
Subclass
Chondrostei
Examine:
specimens of Acipenser (sturgeon) and Polyodon (spoonbill)
Subclass Holostei
Examine:
specimens of Amia (bowfin) and Lepisosteus (gar)
Subclass
Teleostei
Examine:
various specimens
F. Class Amphibia
Subclass
Lissamphibia
Order
Anura - frogs and toads. Examine:
available specimens.
Order
Apoda (Gymnophion) Ð
caecilians. Examine: pictures of apodans.
Order
Urodela - salamanders and
newts. Examine: available
specimens.
G. Class Reptilia
Subclass
Anapsida
Order
Chelonia (Testudines) Ð
turtles. Examine: available
specimens.
Subclass
Diapsida
Superorder
Lepidosauria
Order
Rhynchocephalia Ð
tuatara. Examine: pictures
of Sphenodon.
Order
Squamata
Suborder
Lacertilia - lizards. Examine:
available specimens.
Suborder
Serpentes - snakes. Examine:
available specimens.
Suborder
Amphisbaenia - worm lizard. Examine:
pictures.
Superorder
Archosauria
Order
Crocodilia - crocodiles
and alligators. Examine:
alligator skull.
H. Class Aves - all birds, examine available specimens.
I. Class Mammalia
Subclass
Prototheria - monotremes
(egg laying mammals). Examine:
pictures.
Subclass
Theria
Infraclass
Metatheria - marsupials
(pouched mammals). Examine: oppossum.
Infraclass
Eutheria - true placental
mammals. Examine: available
specimens.