Ε7207 - VERTEBRATE PALAEONTOLOGY

Course Content

Introductory course to the Vertebrate Palaeontology. The theoretical part includes subjects as the origin of the Vertebrates and their relationships with the invertebrates, their taxonomy, the more important events of the vertebrate evolution, the basic characters of the vertebrate anatomy focusing especially on the mammalian anatomy, the vertebrate fossil record of Greece, the relationship of the vertebrate evolution with the palaeogeography and important vertebrate migrations. The practical part focuses to the development of abilities, knowledge of osteology and odontology (especially of the Mammals), the application of the theoretical knowledge for the interpretation of the mode of life of various vertebrates of the past, their relative geological age, and learning to work with the bibliography.

Introduction to the most important subject of Vertebrate Palaeontology; Relationship between Invertebrates and Vertebrates, origin of the Vertebrates, anatomical features of the Vertebrates; Taxonomy of the Vertebrates, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals, Birds. Phylogenetic relationships between the Birds and the Reptiles especially the dinosaurs; Evolutionary radiation of the Vertebrates. Major features of the various phylogenetic groups of vertebrates; Major events to the Vertebrate evolution. Evolution of the skeleton, the fins, theories about the evolution of the jaws, evolution of the teeth, evolution of the limbs, etc.; The transition from the sea to the land, from the land to the air. The first amphibians, the first flying vertebrates; Anatomical adaptations for the life in the water, on the land, on the air; General anatomical characters of the tetrapods. The skeleton of the tetrapods, the cranial of the cranium, the axial skeleton, the appendicular skeleton (with emphasis on the Mammals); The Greek fossil record of Vertebrates. The faunal synthesis of the most important vertebrate fossiliferous localities of Greece, biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironment; Geographical distribution of the past vertebrates and its relation with the palaeogeography, with emphasis to the palaeogeography of the Aegean; Introduction to the excavational methodology and preservational practices.

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