If you love animals and want to learn more about them, if you are involved in animal care and protection, animal management, wildlife management and care, veterinary, science teaching, or environmental management and protection, this course is just for you.

This course has recently been updated and will give you a thorough understanding of "higher" animals' Zoology and Evolution, together with some principles on animal ecology and morphology. You will learn the essentials of Vertebrate Zoology with the help of highly qualified and experienced tutors. The course is accepted by some animal health professional associations as points for their Continuing Education Recording Scheme, category "Correspondence courses".

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Vertebrate Taxonomy and Diversity
2. Fishes
3. Ectotherms: Amphibians and Reptiles
4. Birds
5. Overview of Mammals
6. Marsupials
7. Mammalian Glires and Insectivora
8. Carnivores
9. Hooved Mammals: Ungulata
10. Primates and other Archonta

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Distinguish between major groups of vertebrates through a demonstrated understanding of their taxonomic classification and diversity.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of all major groups of fishes.
• To describe the distinguishing characteristics of all major groups of Ectotherms, Amphibians and Reptiles.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of major groups of birds
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of all major groups of Mammals.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals in the order Marsupialia and compare mammalian specialisations with those of other vertebrates.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the grandorders Glires and Insectivora.
• Explain Ectothermy in a variety of different animals.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the order Carnivora.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the grand order Ungulata.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of animals within the grandorder Archonta.

• During this course, the student will carry out the following activities. Where a student's mobility is limited or there is a lack of facilities in the student's home locality, an equivalent activity can be offered
• Visit a Zoo, Wildlife Park or even a Pet Shop. Observe the range of animals present and report on them.
• Visit an aquarium supply shop, marine park, fish retailer, or other facility where you can observe fish. If your mobility is restricted or you are unable to locate such a facility, look at the web site of an aquarium, and see what diversity of animals is to be seen on that web site. Identify animals from different orders and report on them.
• Research the anatomical characteristics of one species of fish
• Investigate the biological characteristics of one species of amphibian
• Investigate the biological characteristics of one species of reptile
• Research the biological characteristics of one species of bird
• Observe the behaviour of a bird or birds for 1 hour (in the wild, or captivity). Take notes
• Investigate the biological characteristics of one species of mammal.
• Research a particular family or genus of marsupial.
• Visit either a pet shop or zoo and observe any animals from the Glires or Insectivora that you find there.