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Rise of the Saurians: Squamata
Chidumebi Ikechi Njoku-Browne
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(833)
Popular
In this ongoing class, students will learn about the family tree of the Squamates, the group that includes snakes, Komodo dragons and mosasaurs.
Class Experience
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
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...
- Students will learn about the basic anatomy of squamates and their evolutionary history.
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.
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Some of the videos shown and topics discussed involves how predatory squamates acquire their food.
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
833reviews
Popular
1)I teach Classical Western Civilization History. Pre-colonial West African history with more specifics on pre-colonial Nigerian history and mythology. I also teach prehistory. 2)I am a volunteer at the Natural History Museum. A tax professional,...
Group Class
$13
weekly1x per week
35 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
1-9 learners per class
