Skip to main content
Home

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Parents
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
  • Cymraeg
My country:

Main Menu

    • Clearing 2025
      • Clearing Courses
      • Apply Online
      • Call our Clearing Helpline
      • Clearing Live Chat
      • Offer Holder Hub
      • Book Clearing Open Day
    • Accommodation
      • Accommodation Guarantee
      • Find Your Perfect Room
    • About us
      • Virtual Tour
      • Why study in North Wales
      • Our Location
      • Student Clubs and Societies
      • Student Life
      • Reasons to study locally

    Clearing Open Days

    • Undergraduate
      • A–Z of Courses
      • Subject Areas
      • Clearing 2025
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Offer Holders' Hub
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarship and Bursaries
      • Widening Access
      • Study in Welsh
      • Part-Time Study
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Work Experience
      • Student Accommodation
      • Pocket Prospectus
      • Academic Calendar
    • Postgraduate Taught
      • A-Z of Courses
      • Subject Areas
      • How to Apply
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Executive Education
      • January Start
      • Part-Time Study
      • Short Courses and CPD
      • A-Z of Short Courses and CPD
    • Postgraduate Research
      • A-Z of Courses
      • Subject Areas
      • How to Apply
      • Funding
      • The Doctoral School

    Find a Course

    Clearing 2025

    Offer Holders' Hub

    Order a Pocket Prospectus

    Open Days

    Virtual Tour

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Student Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Tour
      • Videos and Vlogs
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Welcome 2024
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances
      • Student Ambassadors

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    Welcome Week

    Virtual Tour

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Accommodation
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
      • Bangor University's China website
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad (Incoming)
      • Exchanges (Incoming)
      • Worldwide Partners

    Clearing 2025

    Country Specific Information

    Bangor University International College

    Find a Course

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Integrated Research and Impact Support (IRIS) Service
      • Energy
      • REF 2021
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Doctoral School
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development

    Royal Recognition: 2023 Queen's Anniversary Prize

    Bangor Research In Top 30 For Societal Impact In UK

    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Strategy 2030
      • Annual Report & Financial Statements
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • Vice-Chancellor's Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Health and Wellbeing
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
      • Management and Governance
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation
      • Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events
    • Announcements
      • Flag Announcements

    140th Anniversary

    Public Lectures

    • Clearing 2025
      • Clearing Courses
      • Apply Online
      • Book Clearing Open Day
      • Call our Clearing Helpline
      • Clearing Live Chat
      • Offer Holder Hub
    • Accommodation
      • Accommodation Guarantee
      • Find Your Perfect Room
    • About us
      • Virtual Tour
      • Why study in North Wales
      • Our Location
      • Student Clubs and Societies
      • Student Life
      • Reasons to study locally

    Clearing Open Days

    • Undergraduate
      • A–Z of Courses
      • Subject Areas
      • Clearing 2025
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Offer Holders' Hub
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarship and Bursaries
      • Widening Access
      • Study in Welsh
      • Part-Time Study
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Work Experience
      • Student Accommodation
      • Pocket Prospectus
      • Academic Calendar
    • Postgraduate Taught
      • A-Z of Courses
      • Subject Areas
      • How to Apply
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Executive Education
      • January Start
      • Part-Time Study
      • Short Courses and CPD
      • A-Z of Short Courses and CPD
    • Postgraduate Research
      • A-Z of Courses
      • Subject Areas
      • How to Apply
      • Funding
      • The Doctoral School

    Find a Course

    Clearing 2025

    Offer Holders' Hub

    Order a Pocket Prospectus

    Open Days

    Virtual Tour

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Student Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
      • Videos and Vlogs
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Welcome 2024
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances
      • Student Ambassadors

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    Welcome Week

    Virtual Tour

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Accommodation
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
      • Bangor University's China website
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad (Incoming)
      • Exchanges (Incoming)
      • Worldwide Partners

    Clearing 2025

    Country Specific Information

    Bangor University International College

    Find a Course

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Integrated Research and Impact Support (IRIS) Service
      • Energy
      • REF 2021
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Doctoral School
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development

    Royal Recognition: 2023 Queen's Anniversary Prize

    Bangor Research In Top 30 For Societal Impact In UK

    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Strategy 2030
      • Annual Report & Financial Statements
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • Vice-Chancellor's Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Health and Wellbeing
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
      • Management and Governance
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation
      • Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events
    • Announcements
      • Flag Announcements

    140th Anniversary

    Public Lectures

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Parents
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
My country:

Search

Close

Breadcrumb

  • Cymraeg

Share this page:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Apply Now

Find out how to apply

Postgraduate Tuition Fees

View our full tuition fees information

Register your interest in PG study

Register now

Module BSX-2022:
Vertebrate Biology

Vertebrate Biology 2025-26
BSX-2022
2025-26
School Of Natural Sciences
Module - Semester 1
20 credits
Module Organiser: Charles Bishop
Overview

This module traces the origins of vertebrates through a series of around 21 lectures (mostly face-to-face but with additional online video resources) and follows the subsequent major advances in the evolution of aquatic, terrestrial and aerial groups. Themes given particular emphasis include: evolution, diversity, feeding, respiration (aquatic and aerial), and locomotion (aquatic, terrestrial and flight). This module should be of general interest to all animal biologists but with an emphasis on terrestrial groups.

The module will also include a mixture of lab-based and museum/online-based practical classes (generally focussing on locomotor, respiratory and reproductive adaptations), two covering fish diversity in form and function, a chicken dissection (with additional focus on digestive adaptations and related internal organs) and two museum-based practicals covering amphibian/reptile and mammal diversity and core adaptations.

Assessment will be via a series of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) tests and end of semester short answer or short essay exam questions.

This module traces the origins of vertebrates through a series of around 20 lectures (mostly face-to-face but with additional online video resources) and follows the subsequent major advances in the evolution of aquatic, terrestrial and aerial groups. Themes given particular emphasis include: evolution, diversity, feeding, respiration (aquatic and aerial), and locomotion (aquatic, terrestrial and flight). This module should be of general interest to all animal biologists but with an emphasis on terrestrial groups.

The module will also include a mixture of lab-based and museum/online-based practical classes (generally focussing on locomotor, respiratory and reproductive adaptations), two covering fish diversity in form and function, a chicken dissection (with additional focus on digestive adaptations and related internal organs) and two museum-based practicals covering amphibian/reptile and mammal diversity and core adaptations.

Assessment will be via a series of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) tests and end of semester short answer or short essay exam questions.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold (D) -A threshold student should have a basic knowledge of some of the essential facts and key concepts of the evolutionary history, anatomical structure and diversity of vertebrates presented in the module. Written answers should demonstrate some ability to organise relevant material into a coherent argument but is likely to lack specific examples, detailed explanations and good subject coverage.

-good -(B) A good student should have a thorough factual knowledge across most aspects of the module, and be able to detail examples where appropriate. Written answers should synthesise lecture material and information from background reading, and demonstrate an ability to critically integrate and evaluate the principles underlying the structural evolution and function of vertebrates. This would include their diversity, and how functions such as feeding, locomotion and reproduction are vital to their survival.

-excellent -(A) The student should demonstrate excellent and comprehensive factual knowledge, critical understanding of theory, evidence of extra reading of primary literature and the ability to integrate this extra knowledge in a relevant manner, adequate for HE level 2.

-another level-A C class student should have a reasonable factual knowledge across many aspects of the module, and be able to provide some detailed examples where appropriate. Written answers should try and synthesise key aspects of the lecture material and enclosed information, and demonstrate an attempt to integrate and evaluate the principles underlying the structural evolution and function of vertebrates.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of processes of evolution, phylogeny, physiology and biomechanics of vertebrates. (Biosciences benchmarks: 3.2 subject knowledge & 3.5 intellectual skills)

  • Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the interaction of vertebrates with their environment. (Biosciences benchmarks: 3.2 subject knowledge & 3.5 intellectual skills)

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different facts and mechanisms of vertebrate biology (Biosciences benchmarks: 3.2 subject knowledge & 3.5 intellectual skills)

  • Develop an appreciation of internal anatomy, including organ structure and vascularisation. (Biosciences benchmark: 3.5 intellectual skills & 3.9 Self-management and professional development skills)

Assessment type

Summative

Weighting

20%

Assessment type

Summative

Weighting

20%

Assessment type

Summative

Weighting

20%

Assessment type

Summative

Weighting

20%

Assessment type

Summative

Weighting

20%

Home

Study

  • Postgraduate Taught Study
Home

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn

Bangor University

Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK

+44 (0)1248 351151

Contact Us

Visit Us

Maps & Directions

Policy

  • Legal Compliance
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015 Statement
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy and Cookies
  • Welsh Language Policy
Map

Bangor University is a Registered Charity: No. 1141565

© 2020 Bangor University