Chapter 1 : Introduction to Zoology

Topics covered in this snack-sized chapter:



Introduction to Zoology arrow_upward


  • Zoology: the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct
  • Aristotle is considered the “father of zoology.”

    • Branches of Zoology arrow_upward


  • There are several branches of zoology:
    • Acarology
    • Anthrozoology
    • Arachnology
    • Batrachology
    • Cetology
    • Entomology
    • Ethology
    • Herpetology
    • Ichthyology
    • Mammalogy
    • Myrmecology
    • Neuroethology
    • Ornithology
    • Paleozoology
    • Parasitology
    • Protozoology
    • Nematology
    • Malacology
    • Helminthology
  • Acarology:
    • The study of mites and ticks
    • Acari (or acarina) are a taxon of arachnids that contains mites and ticks
  • Anthrozoology:
    • Also called “human–animal studies” or “HAS,” is the study of human-animal interaction
  • Arachnology:
    • The scientific study of spiders and related animals such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, collectively called “arachnids”
  • Batrachology:
    • A further sub-discipline of herpetology concerned with the study of amphibians alone
  • Cetology:
    • The branch of marine mammal science that studies the approximately eighty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoise in the scientific order Cetacea
  • Ethology:
    • The scientific and objective study of animal behavior, and a sub-topic of zoology
  • Herpetology:
    • The branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and gymnophiona) and reptiles (including snakes, lizards, amphisbaenids, turtles, terrapins, tortoises, crocodilians, and the tuataras)
  • Ichthyology:
    • The branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish
    • This includes skeletal fish (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), and jawless fish (Agnatha)
  • Mammalogy:
    • In zoology, the study of mammals, a class of vertebrates with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, four chambered hearts, and complex nervous system
  • Myrmecology:
    • The scientific study of ants
  • Neuroethology:
    • Refers to the study of the neural basis of natural behavior of animals and its underlying mechanistic control by the nervous system
  • Ornithology:
    • A branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds
  • Paleozoology:
    • One of the branches of paleontology dealing with ancient and fossil animals
    • The recovery and identification of multicellular animal remains from geological (or even archeological) contexts, and the use of these fossils in the reconstruction of prehistoric environments and ancient ecosystems
  • Parasitology:
    • The study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them
  • Protozoology:
    • The study of protozoa
    • Studies the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife
  • Nematology:
    • The scientific discipline concerned with the study of nematodes, or roundworms
  • Malacology:
    • A branch of zoology dealing with mollusks: invertebrate creatures with soft, unsegmented bodies, many of which house themselves in shells
    • These animals include snails, slugs, clams, mussels, octopus, squid, and many other kinds of animals without backbones that are often found in the sea, but sometimes in lakes and rivers, and on land
  • Helminthology:
    • The study of worms, especially parasitic worms


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