ZOOL20004 Australian Wildlife Biology
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 2.5 class hours a week
Is ZOOL20004 hard?
ZOOL20004: About average. Makes it easier: No final exam, Only 2.5 class hours a week. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time. The easier and harder points roughly balance out.
What you learn
Australia's animals: how frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals evolved and adapted, and how they're conserved.
After it you can
- Describe major groups of Australian fauna
- Make and record field observations
- Explain how Australian animals adapt to harsh environments
What you need first
None
What it leads to
Careers
Helps toward: Biochemist, Microbiologist, Laboratory scientist, Zoologist, Veterinarian, Biotechnologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 60%, Quizzes 20%, Presentations 20%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 8 students on StudentVIP (2014–2024)
- The field trips and pracs are a highlight, and reviewers found the lecturers passionate.
- The weekly wildlife blog can take much more time than suggested. Feedback on it came late for one reviewer.
- Exams now focus on application such as data interpretation, so it is less of an easy subject than before. Reports need Excel data analysis.
- Great as a breadth subject, but ecology students may find it repeats first-year biology.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate ZOOL20004
Quick answers
- When is ZOOL20004 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking ZOOL20004?
- No prerequisites.
- Does ZOOL20004 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Assignments 60%, Quizzes 20%, Presentations 20%.
- Is ZOOL20004 hard?
- From 8 student reviews on StudentVIP: The field trips and pracs are a highlight, and reviewers found the lecturers passionate.
- What do students say about ZOOL20004?
- The field trips and pracs are a highlight, and reviewers found the lecturers passionate. The weekly wildlife blog can take much more time than suggested. Feedback on it came late for one reviewer. Exams now focus on application such as data interpretation, so it is less of an easy subject than before. Reports need Excel data analysis.
- How many class hours a week does ZOOL20004 have?
- 2.5 h a week in class
- Can I take ZOOL20004 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- What can I take after ZOOL20004?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example VETS30033.
- Can I rate ZOOL20004?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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