The scientific study of animal characteristics and classification is known as zoology. It is also known as animal biology because it is one of the branches of biology. Ethology, zoography, and anthrozoology are some of the sub-disciplines of this field. Furthermore, zoologists frequently specialize in the study of specific animal species. An ornithologist, for example, studies birds, whereas a mammologist studies mammals. Taxonomy, paleontology, and evolutionary biology are all related fields in zoology, which is a very interdisciplinary subject.
Sub-divisions
Zoography, ethology, paleozoology, and anthrozoology are examples of zoology sub-branches. The term “zoography” refers to the study of animals and their environments. These descriptions are frequently very detailed, and they may include details about the animal’s behavior or eating habits. Ethology, or the study of animal behavior, is a related subfield. Ethologists study a variety of species and tend to focus on behavioral characteristics rather than specific types of animals. Imprinting, aggression, emotion, and communication are all common behaviors that have been studied.
Paleozoology is another sub-branch that studies animals that have been declared extinct. This includes animals such as dinosaurs, as well as certain fish and insects that have modern-day counterparts. The results of this type of research are used to better understand the physiology and behavior of extinct animals, as well as modern animals that are descended from extinct ones. Another subfield, cryptozoology, aims to prove the existence of animals that have only been rumored to exist, such as the Loch Ness monster and yeti. Cryptozoologists, on the other hand, may conduct field studies if an animal previously thought to be extinct has been rediscovered.
Some zoologists specialize in the study of human-animal interactions. The study of how animals were domesticated, how humans think about animals, and the bonds formed between humans and animals is known as anthrozoology. It’s frequently associated with animal rights, ethology, and psychology research. Other anthrozoology researchers concentrate on veterinary medicine or how animals can be used in human therapy.
Related Subjects
Taxonomy, which is the practice of classifying different types of organisms based on shared characteristics, is one of the most closely related fields to zoology. Animals are classified into various organizational structures, which typically begin with superfamilies and end with subspecies. Systematics, in which zoologists classify animals according to their genus or species, is also related to this field.
Evolutionary biology is another related field. When applied to zoology, this field entails researching how animals first evolved and how they have changed over time. This is frequently associated with paleontology. Ecology and environmental studies, particularly zoography and ethology, are also related fields.
Having a job as a zoologist
Some universities offer a zoology bachelor’s degree program, but zoologists can also work as graduate students. Before applying for graduate studies in this field, a person should have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as biology or chemistry. The work environment of a zoologist is often determined by the area in which he or she specializes. Zoologists can work in zoos and do so, but they can also do field and laboratory research. They can also make pest-control or livestock-raising plans, as well as offer advice on how to deal with invasive species or clean up an ecosystem. Some zoologists also work as teachers or guides, educating visitors about animals and their environments in zoos or other settings.
History is a fascinating subject.
Animal medicine was known to ancient Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations, but most early zoological studies were mystical rather than practical. Hippocrates, a Greek physician, and Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, were both involved in early zoology. Aristotle shaped the four pillars of zoology: anatomy, taxonomy, genetics, and physiology, while Hippocrates focused on animal physiology. Other notable figures include Charles Darwin, a British field biologist whose work contributed to a better understanding of human-animal relationships, and Thomas Henry Huxley, an anatomist best known for his support of Darwin’s theory of evolution as well as his research into ape and human ethology.