Rise of the Saurians: Squamata
In this ongoing class, students will learn about the family tree of the Squamates, the group that includes snakes, Komodo dragons and mosasaurs.
Chidumebi Ikechi Njoku-Browne
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(855)
What's included
1 live meeting
35 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Students will be learning about the evolution/taxonomy of the Squamates The topics covered will be as follows: 1. Shared features of squamates 2. Basal squamates in the fossil record 3. The initial branching lines of the squamates. 4. The evolution of Scincomorpha (this will take several classes, but students can drop in for a particular branch). 5. The evolution of Toxicofera (this is the family that includes snakes, iguanas, monitor lizards and mosasaurs) 6. The evolution of Scleroglossa (the family line where geckos are from) 7. The evolution of Lacertoidea (where Tegus are found) 8. The evolution of Dibamidae (blind skinks) My class will be structured along the evolution and timeline of this family. For example, as basal members first show in the Early Jurassic, they will be first, and blind skinks will be the last topic since they first appear in the Oligocene before the class resets, allowing older students to have learned everything and newer students to catch up on subjects missed. I will teach using a mixture of slides, video clips, discussion and lecture. My teaching style can be be described as interactive Primarily learners will get to interact with me through lectures and discussion. As an example. Week of May 30th: Basal Squamates Week of June 6th: Xantusiomorphs Week of June 13th: Paramacellodicordylidans Week of June 20th: Cordyliformes Week of June 27th: Basal Skinks Week of July 4th: Limbless skinks Week of July 11th: Social skinks
Learning Goals
Students will learn about the basic anatomy of squamates and their evolutionary history.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some of the videos shown and topics discussed involves how predatory squamates acquire their food.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Bergmann, Philip J., and Duncan J. Irschick. “Vertebral evolution and the diversification of squamate reptiles.” Evolution, vol. 66, no. 4, 6 Nov. 2011, pp. 1044–1058, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01491.x.
Debraga, Michael. Anatomical and Functional Changes between Terrestrial Varanoid Lizards and Aquatic Mosasaurs. 1990.
Dessauer, Herbert C., et al. Patterns of Snake Evolution Suggested by Their Proteins: A Contribution in Celebration of the Distinguished Scholarship of Robert F. Inger on the Occasion of His Sixty-Fifth Birthday. 1987.
Jackson, Katherine. Morphology, Development, and Evolution of Venom-Delivery Systems in Snakes. 2002.
Morinaga, Gen. The Evolutionary Functional Morphology of Snake-like Body Shapes in Squamate Reptiles. 2018.
Polcyn, Michael J., et al. “Physical drivers of mosasaur evolution.” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 400, Apr. 2014, pp. 17–27, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.05.018.
Shapiro, Michael David. Evolution and Development of Limb Reduction in the Australian Skink Hemiergis (Reptilia: Scincidae). 2001.
Townsend, Ted Michael. Squamate Molecular Phylogenetics: Mitochondrial and Nuclear Perspectives. 2002.
Underwood, Garth. “An overview of venomous snake evolution.” Venomous Snakes, 31 Oct. 1996, pp. 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198549864.003.0001.
Joined June, 2019
4.9
855reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have worked at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum for several years in their education department where I have taught about prehistoric life. I have gone on several digs in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. Studied paleontology under Philip J. Currie and Thomas R. Holtz.Reviews
Live Group Class
$13
weekly1x per week
35 min
Completed by 9 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
1-9 learners per class
