Group A: Lower Non-Chordata
Taxonomy: Concept, trends and significance of taxonomy. Concept of Protozoa and Metazoa and the origin of Metazoa. Classification of Protozoa, Porifera, Coelenterata, Platyhelminthes, Aschelminthes and Annelida up to orders with characters and examples. (10 lec.)
Protozoa: Habit, habitat, structure and reproduction of Vorticella. Structure, life cycle, pathogenicity and control measures of Leishmania donovani, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Trichomonas vaginalis, Eimeria tenella and Babesia bigemina. (14 lec.)
Porifera: Habit, habitat, structure, reproduction and embryogeny of Scypha. Introduction and examples of freshwater sponges. Canal and skeletal systems. Economic importance of Porifera. (7 lec.)
Coelenterata: Habit, habitat, structure, reproduction and development of Obelia. Polymorphism. Distribution, types and formation of corals and coral reefs. Coral and dinoflagellate symbiosis and coral bleaching. Human intrusion in coral reefs. Economic importance of Coelenterates. (12 lec.)
Platyhelminthes: Structure, life cycle, pathogenicity and control measures of Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma haematobium, Taenia solium and Echinococcus granulosus. Morphological and physiological adaptations of helminth parasites. (12 lec.)
Aschelminthes: Structure, life cycle, pathogenicity and control measures of Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Enterobius vermicularis, Wuchereria bancrofti and phyto-nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Economic importance of Aschelminthes. (10 lec.)
Annelida: Coelom and Nephridia in Annelida. Structure, organ systems, life cycle and parasitic adaptations of Hirudinaria granulosa. Introduction to vermicomposting. Economic importance of annelids. (10 lec.)
Group B: Higher Non-Chordata and Protochordata
Taxonomy: Classification of Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata and Protochordata up to orders with characters and examples. (6 lec.)
Arthropoda: General morphology and economic importance of spiders, mites and ticks. Organ systems of freshwater prawn (Palaeomon). Structure, life history and economic importance of Periplaneta americana, Phlebotomus argentipus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Sitophilus oryzae. Mouthparts of insects. Metamorphism in insects. Social behavior of termites. Economic importance of Arthropods. ( 25 lec.)
Mollusca: Shells in Mollusca. Structure and organ systems of Apple Snail (Pila globosa), fresh water mussel: Lamellidens (=Unio). Pearl and its formation. Dispersal, damage and control measures of African Giant Land Snail (Lissachatina fulica). Torsion and detorsion in Gastropoda. Economic importance of molluscs. (22 lec.)
Echinodermata: Structure, organ systems and development of Asterias. Larval forms in Echinodermata. (8 lec.)
Protochordata: Structure, organ systems and affinities of Balanoglossus, Herdmania and Branchiostoma. Development of Herdmania. (14 lec.)
