About this course: Paleontology: Ancient Marine Reptiles is a four-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary changes that occur when air-breathing terrestrial animals return to water. This course examines the diversity, adaptations, convergence, and phylogenetic relationships of extinct marine reptiles. Students will explore three major groups of marine reptiles: ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs. Watch a preview of the course here: https://uofa.ualberta.ca/courses/paleontology-marine-reptiles
Created by: University of Alberta
Taught by: Michael Caldwell, Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Taught by: Halle P. Street, Sessional Instructor
Faculty of Science
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction to Marine Reptiles
Welcome to the first lesson of Palaeontology: Ancient Marine Reptiles. In this lesson we will explore the main theme of the course: the aquatic problem. In other words, what happens when a terrestrial animal returns to the water permanently? How do air-breathi...
5 videos, 6 readings
Graded: Module 1 Assessment (Graded)
WEEK 2
Ichthyopterygians
Welcome back! We hope that you enjoyed the first lesson of the Ancient Marine Reptiles mini MOOC. In lesson one, we discussed a variety of modern and extinct groups of aquatic amniotes. Some of these groups would have been familiar to you, and some you had pro...
4 videos, 1 reading
Graded: Module 2 Assessment (Graded)
WEEK 3
Sauropterygians
Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed the lesson on ichthyopterygians, the first of three in depth explorations of an extinct marine reptile group that we will cover. In this lesson you learned that ichthyosaurs are among the most specialized reptiles that ever li...
5 videos, 1 reading
Graded: Module 3 Assessment (Graded)
WEEK 4
Mosasauroids
Welcome to the final lesson in Palaeontology: Ancient Marine Reptiles. The lesson you just finished gave you an in depth look at one of the most morphologically disparate groups of marine tetrapods to ever live. There were the turtle-shaped placodonts with cru...
5 videos, 1 reading
Graded: Module 4 Assessment (Graded)
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University of Alberta
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Ratings and Reviews
This course was very interesting and helpful. It helped me to really understand marine reptiles, unlike many introductory science books that only lists the names of those reptiles.
Excellent professors. This course is one of my favorites, the modules are very easy to follow.
Very good course, not the first I have taken with Uni Alberta either, I love the tutor and the way he expresses information makes it very easy to take in.
Questions in the quizzes are good to test your knowledge.
This will not be the last one I take, I would recommend Uni Alberta for all you Dinosaur course needs.
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CB
This course provided in depth information presented in a clear progression over time. I appreciated the excellent drawings and fossil displays as well as the interactive objects embedded in the course. The presenter is engaging and highly knowledgeable, making this course something that was enjoyable and challenging.