BIOL-415 ANIMAL TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION-

UNIT I-

Introduction: History, Stages in Taxonomy; Problems of Taxonomists, Aims and tasks of a taxonomist, Taxonomy as a profession.

UNIT II-

Newer trends in Taxonomy: Morphological approach, immature stages, Embryological approach, Behavioral approach, Cytological approach, Biochemical approach, Molecular taxonomy.

UNIT III-

Taxonomic procedure: Collection, Preservation of collected material, Methods of identification and problems encountered in Identification.

UNIT VI-

Comparative Biogeography, Endemic Areas, Zoogeographic regions of the World, Zoogeographic regions of India, Major habitat types of the subcontinent.

UNIT V-

Natural history of Indian subcontinent: Role of physical and biotic environments in determining taxonomic distributions, Migrations of species in the subcontinent; common Indian mammals, birds.

Practical:

 Collection and Taxonomy of Mosquitoes
 Collection of immature stages of insects
 Preservatives and methods of preservation
 Identifying local habitats and distribution of different anima l groups
 Study of the role of pH in determining animal distribution

Recommended Books:

1. Kapoor. 2013. Theory and practice of animal Taxonomy. Oxford & IBH Publishing.
2. Beddard. 2010. A Text- Book of Zoogeography. Nabu Press.