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Lecturer(s)
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Veselý Milan, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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History of herpetology; origin, evolution, and phylogeny of reptiles; anatomy and morphology; feeding ecology and digestion; defence, predation, and parasitism; reproduction, sex determination, sperm storage, oviparity, and viviparity; spatial ecology, migration, and orientation; thermoregulation and water balance; hibernation and aestivation; population dynamics, biogeography, and interspecific relationships; systematics of extant groups; reptiles of the Czech Republic and their conservation.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
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Learning outcomes
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To provide an integrated overview of reptile evolution, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behaviour, diversity, and conservation. The course demonstrates relationships between the phylogeny of individual lineages, their functional adaptations, and their life-history strategies.
The student explains the principal anatomical, physiological, and ecological adaptations of reptiles and interprets their systematics and phylogenetic relationships. The student recognizes major families, identifies species occurring in the Czech Republic, compares major reproductive and thermoregulatory strategies, and proposes biologically justified conservation measures.
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Prerequisites
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Knowledge of general zoology, evolutionary biology, and the fundamentals of vertebrate ecology and systematics at Bachelor's level.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Oral exam
Knowledge of the thematic areas covered, orientation in the systematics of extant reptiles, identification of selected taxa, and successful completion of an oral examination.
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Recommended literature
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Baruš, V., Oliva, O. et al. (1992). Plazi. Praha.
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O?Shea, M. (2024). Reptiles of the World: A Guide to Every Family. Princeton.
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Pough, F. H. (2001). Herpetology. Prentice Hall, London, Sydney, Toronto.
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Witt, L. J., Caldwell, J. P.:. Herpetology. 3rd edition. Academic Press. San Diego, New York, Boston, London, Tokyo, Toronto, 2009..
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