Mammalogy
MAMMALOGY
FALL 2015
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGER VERSION
Contents
INSTRUCTOR
Kurt Schwenk, Ph.D., Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Office: Torrey Life Sciences, 360
Lab: Torrey Life Sciences, 365
Voice: (860) 486-0351
Lab phone: (860) 486-4158
Fax: (860) 486-6364
Email: kurt.schwenk@uconn.edu
Dr. Schwenk's web page
TEACHING ASSISTANT—MAURI LIBERTI
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Mauri Liberati
PhD Student
Wildlife & Fisheries Conservation Center
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Connecticut
marjorie.liberati@uconn.edu
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Figures showing the Eutherian Orders and their phylogenetic relationships—new download, below
COURSE DOWNLOADS
Eutherian Phylogeny and Orders
LINK—POWERPOINT PICTURES SHOWING EVOLUTION OF THE MAMMALIAN JAW JOINT AND MIDDLE EAR + A COUPLE OTHER THINGS
Directions for downloading/uploading camera-trap photos
LECTURE EXAM 1 SAMPLE QUESTIONS
LECTURE EXAM 1 ANSWERS TO SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Who we are—student pictures!
UConn Fall 2013 Academic Calendar
SYLLABUS WITH LECTURE SCHEDULE (keep watching this spot for lab schedule!)
Literary essay by Kurt on the problem of hierarchical ("vertical") thinking in animal classification, but also in life generally. Totally optional. If you read it and have an opinion—positive or negative—I would appreciate hearing from you.
CT Mammal Guides Make sure to bring yours into class on Thursday.
LINKS
CLASS FACEBOOK PAGE—CAMERA TRAP PHOTOS AND MORE
2013 Mammalogy Class Facebook Page
UCONN TODAY ARTICLE THAT MENTIONS MAMMALOGY
UConn Today article about teaching outside the classroom
MAMMAL VOCALIZATIONS"'
MONOTREMES
Platypus evolution
Platypus feeding, locomotion, venomous spurs, reproduction, etc.
PILOSA
Giant anteater, Myrmecophaga – my personal favorite mammal in the world. I was once attacked by one at the Bronx Zoo…
Giant anteater with baby on back
Baby giant anteater – cutest, weirdest animal on the planet
Two-toed sloths, courtship, near mating
CINGULATA
Armadillo foraging, using olfaction
TUBULIDENTATA
Aardvark foraging - note use of nose and olfaction to find prey
FEEDING
Giraffe feeding - tongue is used to strip leaves off of spiny Acacia trees in Africa
Lesser anteater (Tamandua) feeding on ants in trees
Pangolin feeding
Aardvark feeding - amazing tongue footage!
LOCOMOTION
Platypus locomotion - note laterally sprawled posture
Armadillo gathering grass
Armadillo locomotion
Lion skeleton animation showing mobile pectoral girdle and spinal flexion
Cheetah animated model showing extreme spinal flexion and increase in stride length
Baboon locomotion
Horse locomotion made from sequential still photos - note 4 feet off ground during gallop and relatively stiff spine
Kangaroo bipedal hopping - with each hop tendons stretch, then release elastic energy for rebound
PREDATION
Cheetah vs. gazelle
Harpy eagle vs. sloth
Golden eagle vs. mountain goat
Crowned eagle vs. water chevrotain
Golden Eagle vs. cougar
Jaguar vs. anaconda
Hunter vs. deer
Water buffalo vs. lion vs. croc
Jaguar vs. large caiman!
MAMMALOGY CARTOONS