Biology of the Vertebrates
Biology · 3 hrs Lecture | 3 hrs Lab
Offered: Winter Only, Every Year
One shot a year. Offered winter term only, so a clash costs a full year.
BIOL-2116 prerequisites
2 courses appear in this chain, up to 1 level deep. 2 are needed whichever route you take: BIOL-1115 → BIOL-1116
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Where BIOL-2116 counts
Counts toward 3 more as one option among several, not as a course you must take:
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 71 of 141 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
This course introduces students to the evolution, ecology, diversity, and functional anatomy of vertebrate animals including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. We examine different lines of evidence used to investigate vertebrate evolution, including paleontology, evolutionary developmental biology and cladistics ("tree-thinking"). When reviewing the major groups, we focus on major transformations in vertebrate life (e.g., the basic body plan, the move from water to land, the original of flights) and the behaviour, ecology and conservation of specific groups. We highlight species of vertebrates found in Manitoba and Canada.
Requisite courses
BIOL-1115 and BIOL-1116 [prerequisite(s)]; BIOL-2116L (must be taken concurrently).
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and BIOL-2111.
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.