BIOL 2110 Vertebrate Zoology

Study questions for midterm exam

Cynthia Kapke

The following questions are meant as a study guide and do not represent all of the
material that may show up on the midterm exam. However, you may see questions or
parts of questions from this sheet on the exam. The exam will cover material from lecture
and lab through and including the muscular system. The textbook is meant to support
your understanding of subjects covered in lecture and lab. You do not need to know
material from the text that was not covered in class.

The study of Vertebrate zoology includes not only identification of structures, but also
how these structures evolved and how they compare between taxa. When you look at
your lecture and lab notes, dont just memorize structures, think about how the anatomy
is similar and different between different vertebrate taxa. Also, there is a lot of detail
presented to you in this class. Although you are responsible for all of it, those aspects of
the course that are most prominent or important will be more likely to show up on the
exam.

1. What are synaptomorphies and what are the 5 synaptomorphies of vertebrates?

Describe each one and give examples of what those structures are like in the rat,
pigeon, dogfish, and frog.

2. What is the difference between homology, homoplasy, and analogy and give examples
of traits that would fit in each category.

3. What are some of the important similarities and differences between:

a. Myxiniformes and Vertebrates
b. Agnatha and Gnathostomata
c. Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes
d. Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii
e. Chondrostei and Neopterygii
f. Actinistia and Dipnoi
g. Dipnoi and Acanthostega
h. Lissamphibia and Amniota
i. Sauropsida and Synapsida
j. Testudines and Diapsida
k. Lepidosauria and Archosauromorpha
l. Pelycosauria and Therapsida
m. Monotremes and Theria
n. Metatheria and Eutheria
Please note I have essentially gone through the evolutionary tree during the first few
lectures.
4. What is the difference between the Splanchnocranium, Chondrocranium, and
Dermatocranium? What structures do they support? What groups of animals have these?

5. What are the different types of jaw suspensions and what animals have them?

6. Why are the temporal fenestrae important? What is the difference between diapsids,
synapsids, and anapsids? Give examples of animals that fall into each category.

7. Compare herbivorous mammal to carnivorous mammals. What are the differences in

jaw structure, tooth type, and appendicular skeleton?

8. What are the different tooth types and what animals have them?
a. brachydont vs hypsodont
b. thecodont, acrodonte, pleurodont, poly-phyodont, and heterodont

9. What is the difference between the axial and appendicular skeleton? What are some of
the major structures found in each? Explain the difference between a notochord and a
vertebra. What are some of the structural differences of the vertebral elements in various
animals?

10. What are some of the major changes that took place anatomically with the movement
of vertebrates onto land? How did land living influence the following structures?
a. Limb morphology, and morphology of the pelvic and pectoral girdles
b. Neck morphology

11. What are the similarities and differences between the different muscle types?
a. Smooth vs. Striated vs. Cardiac: Where are they found, what do they do, are
they under conscious control?
b. Red vs. white skeletal muscle; Fast and slow twitch fibres

12. Individual muscles are characterized by many attributes. What is the origin and
insertion? What are flexors and extensors? What are muscle agonists and antagonists?

13. What is axial musculature and how has the structure of these muscles changed
evolutionarily from fish to amphibians, reptiles, birds, and, mammals?