Taxonomy Tales is a new series covering major categories of life on earth--from mollusks to cetaceans to marsupials, we will learn them all! These classes can be taken in any order. This class explores the order "Monotremata", which includes just five species that don't quite fit in with any other animal groups!

In this class, we will study all five of these species:
1) Platypus
2) Short-beaked echidna
3) Western long-beaked echidna
4) Eastern long-beaked echidna
5) Sir David's long-beaked echidna

We will compare and contrast these species and discuss why they are officially mammals even though they are different in so many ways. We will also discuss the ecology and lifestyles of these animals. Along the way, students will learn new vocabulary and ecological concepts that they can apply to other topics in zoology.  

This class is lecture-style with slides and photos, but highly interactive. Students are given the opportunity to ask and answer questions, ponder scientific ideas, and discuss with their classmates. Students may participate via video, audio, the chat room, or may just sit back and enjoy! 

Taxonomy can be a complex study and the way we categorize living things is constantly changing. I follow the most widely accepted taxonomic categorizations and sometimes simplify for the level of these learners. Despite the big words used, there is no pre-requisite knowledge to be successful in this class.