We explain what zoology is and what its topics of interest are. In addition, the branches of study of this discipline and some examples.
What is Zoology?
Zoology is the branch, within biology, that is in charge of the study of animals. Some of the aspects that zoology addresses have to do with:
- The distribution and behavior of animals.
- The anatomical and morphological descriptions of each species.
- The relationship between each species and the rest of the living beings that surround it.
The term “zoology” It comes from Greek and translates as “animal science or study.”. Aristotle was the first zoologist since he dedicated himself to taxonomy, that is, the description and cataloging of numerous species.
Later, thanks to the improvements and refinements in the microscope achieved by the Dutchman Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), progress was made in the study of tissues and species which until now had never been addressed.
See also: Invertebrate animals
What does zoology study?
Zoology studies animals from very diverse angles. Zoologists dedicate themselves, for example, to performing morphological descriptions (the outer part) and anatomical (its organs and systems) of each species.
Zoology too is dedicated to studying, describing and understanding the behavior of species within its habitat and its distribution in the different territories of the planet.
Zoologists also address the ecology of species: the links and relationships that each species maintains with the rest of the organisms that are part of its habitat.
Finally, zoology is responsible for carrying out taxonomic classifications which address the systematic tabulation of those factors that allow the identification of each animal species, extinct or not. These classifications are the result of exploration by zoologists, and also include data on the distribution in time and space of each of the identified species.
As a result of all the subtopics that zoology addresses, it is divided into two large groups:
- General zoology Addresses the generic and common aspects of the different species.
- Descriptive zoology It carries out the taxonomic classifications of each animal, the distribution of each of the species and the specific descriptions of the various groups.
Branches of zoology
Within zoology, different branches are identified, which are defined based on the studies carried out. In general zoology there are the following branches:
- Morphology. Study the shapes and structures of different organisms and organs, carrying out a description of the parts of the body and their arrangement, as well as the external physical characteristics of each species.
- Ethology It is responsible for addressing the behavior of animals in relation to the habitat in which they develop and what are the mechanisms that condition their behavior.
- Embryology Addresses the development and formation of the animal embryo.
- Histology It is responsible for addressing the structure and composition of tissues.
- Anatomy Addresses the size, shape, location, structure, shape and number of internal and external body parts of each species. Within the branch of anatomy there are the following subdivisions:
- Pathological Addresses the effects of diseases on species.
- Comparative It is responsible for studying the differences and similarities that are recorded between the organs of the human being and the rest of the species.
- Topographic It studies the relationships established between different organs in the same place.
- Descriptive It makes descriptions about the size, shape, location and relationships of the different organs that a species has.
- Physiology Addresses the physiological functions of each organism, including the chemical and physical processes that occur in each species.
- Genetics Studies the genetic modifications and inheritance of species.
- Ecology It is responsible for the study of the links between animals and their environment.
Within descriptive zoology, the different branches are identified:
- Zoogeography It is dedicated to addressing the geographical location of animals.
- Melacology He is dedicated to the study of mollusks.
- Mastozoology He is dedicated to the study of mammals.
- Parasitology It covers the study of living parasites and parasitism relationships.
- Taxonomy It is dedicated to the classification of various species through comparisons of different types, for example, anatomical or morphological. This branch is the one that includes each animal in a certain species, genus, family, kingdom, etc.
- Entomology Study insects from various angles: taxonomy, morphology, genetics, among others.
- Paleozoology He is dedicated to the study of animal fossils.
- Ichthyology It focuses on the study of fish.
- Phylogeny It is responsible for the study of the evolution of animals, that is, how they go from simple to complex forms.
Examples from zoology
There is a huge number of branches within zoology, which are characterized by their specificity. Some examples are the following:
- Herpetology Study reptiles and amphibians.
- Ornithology Study the birds.
- Helminthology It studies helminths, that is, parasitic worms.
- Arachnology Study spiders.
References
- “The branches of zoology and what each one studies” in Green Ecology.
- “Zoology” in Wikipedia, The free encyclopedia.
- «Zoology» in EcuRed.
- “The branches of zoology” in Botanical Online.
