Advanced Course: The Comparative Anatomy and Functional Morphology of Mammals
Part Two of the Two Part On-Demand Online Training Series
Expand your knowledge beyond basic skeletal anatomy. This online course explores the skeletal system of mammals through the lens of functional morphology - examining how bone structure and form are adapted for various modes of locomotion, feeding and behavior.
While many resources focus on learning features on skulls and bones to help species identification, there are fewer resources available to look at what these unique features do and how that applies to a mammal’s life.
This course includes content found nowhere else outside of an academic setting and is designed to be accessible for anybody. The creators have synthesized contemporary research from around the world and combined it with their many years of field experience. They present it here in a way that is accessible, engaging and practical.
Emphasis is placed on practical field applications in order to aid in the interpretation of bones as well as animal behavior. This class is ideal for anyone who has fundamental knowledge of mammal skeletal anatomy; by either having taken the first part of this course or equivalent. If you're interested in learning about animal behaviour, biology, wildlife tracking and the natural history of mammals this class is for you!
By The End Of This Class You Will Be Able To
- Understand how the structure and function of a bone changes depending on lifestyle
- Deepen your field skills by gaining insights into animal behavior, tracks and signs
- Learn functional morphology principles and basic biomechanics to help you learn to read the story bones can tell
- Combine foundational skeletal anatomy knowledge with advanced concepts to transform your field skills and increase your connection with the natural world
- Connect with and appreciate both the similarities and differences that mammals have in their skeletons
Choose a pricing plan
There are three price points available for this course. We are offering a sliding scale in order to create multiple access points for people with varied economic backgrounds. Please read the descriptions fully and then select the cost that best reflects your financial situation. If none of these plans work for you please contact us, we offer a limited number of scholarships.
The prices below are for individuals. If you are interested in using this class for your organization or a group training please contact us.
Pay It Forward Cost
$349
The cost of the course plus a little extra to help support us and create access to the course for others.
For people whose basic needs are met and have funds left over for fun, travel, savings, and/or gifting.
For people whose basic needs are met and have funds left over for fun, travel, savings, and/or gifting.
Standard Cost
$299
The actual cost of the course.
For people who can meet all of their basic needs of food, housing, and transportation without undue stress, plus have a little extra left over.
For people who can meet all of their basic needs of food, housing, and transportation without undue stress, plus have a little extra left over.
Dr Nyn Tomkins
Nyn is a naturalist, anatomy enthusiast, chiropractor, bodyworker and wildlife tracker. She is deeply interested in the story our bodies, in particular our bones, can tell about how we live and relate to the world. She is passionate about teaching anatomy and physiology as a way to help other people relate to and connect with our other than human kin.
David Moskowitz
David is a certified Senior Tracker and a Track and Sign and Trailing Evaluator here in North America. He works in the fields of photography, wildlife biology and education. He is the photographer and author of three books: Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest and Wolves in the Land of Salmon, co-author and photographer of Peterson’s Field Guide to North American Bird Nests and photographer of Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin.
Course Content
Take the basics of mammal skeletal anatomy and add complex layers of observation and understanding to interpret the bones you find in the field. Explore how the bones of one species differs from the bones of another and what those differences tell us about how these animals live their lives and what's important to them.
DISCLAIMERS:
RECOMMENDED PRE-REQUISITE; Foundations Course: The Skeletal Anatomy of Mammals
FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN SKELETAL ANATOMY IS REQUIRED
CONTAINS IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF MAMMAL DISSECTIONS
Module 1 - Fundamental Concepts in Comparative Anatomy and Functional Morphology
- Understand how reading the story in bone can help us interpret tracks, signs and the behavior of animals we observe in the field
- Learn fundamental principles in the study of the form and function of bones
- Explore biomechanics of the quadruped body
- Revisit the beaver skeleton
Module 2 - Limbs, Feet and Girdles: The Appendicular Skeleton
- Apply principles of functional morphology to mammal limbs
- Learn how limbs change based on types of movement
- Discover how different features on limb bones can tell us about how an animal lives
- Explore the amazing diversity of phalanges and deepen your field skills by applying what you learn to tracks on the ground
Module 3 - The Spine and Movement
- Apply principles of functional morphology to mammal spines
- Deepen your knowledge of spinal anatomy by learning the joints of vertebrae
- Learn how different regions of the spine move and what that tells us about animal locomotion
- Discover how different features on vertebrae can tell us about how an animal lives
Module 4 - The Skull
- Apply principles of functional morphology to mammal skulls
- Go on a guided tour of the senses that are housed in the skull and what that tells us about a mammal’s lifestyle
- Deepen your understanding of mammal jaws
- Understand the biomechanics of chewing and how the skull changes with different feeding styles
What people are saying
Nyn's curiosity, enthusiasm, and long-studied interest in bones and the lives of those who made them shone through in class. Nyn teaches using both plain language and technical scientific language, covering basics and niche advanced topics, which made this topic accessible to people with a wide range of experience with bones, anatomy, wildlife tracking, and learning styles. The mix of verbal, written, pictorial, and hands-on learning really helped me absorb what Nyn was sharing. What a treat to learn so intimately about the bones of our mammal kin, and how those structures support the diverse ways they move, eat, and interact with the world.
— K. N.
Dave is an adventurer, with a heart connected to all things wild, so when he is presenting he takes you on a kind of thoughtful journey, leaving your spirit brightened by the beauty in his photographs, joyful from the comedy in his stories, and satiated with his insights in natural history. I’m always impressed with how he manages to address some of the more academic aspects of his observations, while also graciously connecting with his audience and participants – as a presenter, he’s like a friendly and wise ambassador for the wildlife, the places, and the conservationists he works with every day
— E. K.
Whether you're keen to interpret the nuanced origins and placements of found bones or wondering about the structure of a narwhal's tusk, this class is for you. With loads of effective images, thoughtful organization, and infectious curiosity, Dave and Nyn's dive below the skin reveals what makes mammal movement possible. This course will not only help you to see how bones support the lives of mammals who use limbs to dig, bound, or climb, but it will also help you to appreciate the miracle of being a human who can stand on two feet and walk through each day.
— R. R.
Choose a pricing plan
There are three price points available for this course. We are offering a sliding scale in order to create multiple access points for people with varied economic backgrounds. Please read the descriptions fully and then select the cost that best reflects your financial situation. If none of these plans work for you please contact us, we offer a limited number of scholarships.
The prices below are for individuals. If you are interested in using this class for your organization or a group training please contact us.
Pay It Forward Cost
$349
The cost of the course plus a little extra to help support us and create access to the course for others.
For people whose basic needs are met and have funds left over for fun, travel, savings, and/or gifting.
For people whose basic needs are met and have funds left over for fun, travel, savings, and/or gifting.
Standard Cost
$299
The actual cost of the course.
For people who can meet all of their basic needs of food, housing, and transportation without undue stress, plus have a little extra left over.
For people who can meet all of their basic needs of food, housing, and transportation without undue stress, plus have a little extra left over.
FAQs
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Yes this is an advanced class in bone anatomy. You must take the foundations class or have an equivalent background in skeletal anatomy prior to enroling in this course.
You must also be comfortable with seeing images and videos of mammal dissections throughout the course.
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This course is for anyone who already has an understanding of skeletal anatomy. If you don't please check out the foundations class and take that before enroling in this one.
This course is designed for people who are interested in learning about mammal bones, animal behaviour, biology, wildlife tracking and the natural history of mammals.
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We go beyond looking at features on skulls and bones and dive into what these features actually mean. What muscles attach where and what they do. How the shape of bone can tell us about how an animal uses their body. Focusing on practical field applications to interpreting bones and the tracks and signs that mammals leave behind.
You won't find the content in this course anywhere else outside of an academic setting.
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When you purchase this class you get immediate access to all four modules. Each module contains multiple 20-30 minute videos with high quality visual media. The total hours includes over 4 hours of instruction. In addition, each module includes a number of worksheets and resources to help your learning.
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This is an asynchronous online class, meaning you can watch the video lectures and download additional learning material anytime at your own pace. All the content is available to you immediately so you don't have to wait between modules.
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Once you purchase the course you'll have access to all the content forever.
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Yes, we have put a lot of effort into creating a sliding scale to accommodate people with various financial resources. There are three price points available for you to choose from. If none of these prices work for you please contact us using the contact form on this page. We offer some scholarships.
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Yes! The content for this course focuses on North American land-based mammals, but the bigger picture concepts we teach can be applied to all mammals. There will still be plenty of content here for you to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the mammals you live near.
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Yes closed captions are available for each of the videos.
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No, we don't currently have any subtitles available for other languages. If there is a particular language you'd like to see as an option please reach out and let us know.
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Yes, both Nyn and David offer custom workshops and courses. Please contact us with a brief outline of what you're interested in to begin collaborating.
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We currently have two online courses available, which build upon each other.
The Skeletal Anatomy of Mammals and The Comparative Anatomy and Functional Morphology of Mammals.
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Please use the contact form below to reach Nyn and David.
Contact Us
We'd love to hear from you! Please contact us using the form below for any questions or comments.