1.

Introduction to the Living Animal

1.1 Zoology: The study of animals

The term zoology is most commonly pronounced with the first

syllable as "zō," rhyming with "row." Another popular, but less
common pronunciation is with the first syllable rhyming with
"zoo," as in "two." Zoo is short for "zoological garden". The
term comes from the Greek "ζώον" or zoon meaning "animal"
and "λόγος" or logos which translates as "word," or "speech,"
with a literal meaning of "that which refers to."

Quite simply, zoology is the division of biology that deals with

the animal kingdom. It’s the scientific study of everything
having to do with animals, just as botany is the scientific study of plants. Zoology is a huge field
that covers the classification of every animal on earth as well as many broader fields of
experimentation and inquiry related to animal life, and the field keeps expanding due to scientific
advances that continue to open new areas of research. A branch of biology, zoology includes
the study of structure and physiology of animals from the molecular level to the whole organism,
the development and life cycle of individual animals, classification, animal behavior, population
and distribution studies, and the interactions between animals and their biotic (living) and abiotic
(nonliving) environments.

1.2 History of zoology

People acted as zoologists long before the study of zoology existed as we know it today.
Zoology, in a crude form, has existed since people became interested in animals. Animals, such
as the dog for example, have evolved along with us. Primitive farmers, shepherds, and hunters
all noted characteristics in animals and then used them too their advantage whether it be a dog
protecting their flock or their flock itself. They studied the animals, their habits and behavior and
without even realizing it, acted as zoologists. 

The written history of zoology arguably began with Aristotle in the 4th century BC. Aristotle took
a lot of notes on animals he observed which later formed the foundation for the studies of Saint
Albert Magnus during the 13th century. Magnus was a Dominican friar and Bishop of the
Catholic church who dedicated his life to expanding upon the work of Aristotle, thus he dabbled
in early zoology. Until the 1800s, his writings were the most advanced in both zoology and all of
the natural science. 

During the 1500s, a number of important European universities were founded and people, of
course, had interest in studying animals. In 1651, the German Academy of Sciences opened
and completely focused on plant and animal research. The Royal Society of London opened its
own similar school a decade later, followed by another institution in Paris, France. This interest
continued well into the 1700s. Even President Thomas Jefferson was extremely interested in
animals during that time. Anton von Leeuewenhook’s improvements upon the microscope
caused zoology and numerous other fields to take off, far expanding up on the work
of Aristotle and Magnus. 

The 19th century is considered by some the golden age of zoology. During the time, thanks to
the microscope, cells were identified as the building blocks of life. Life processes could then be
observed at the microscopic level, which meant animals could be studied at the microscopic
level. The 19th century was also the era of Charles Darwin. To many, Darwin’s work is what
lead to modern zoology as we know it today. Darwin’s theory of evolution, published in 1859,
revolutionized all of the natural sciences, not just zoology. His work lead to changes in how
members of the animal kingdom are classified as well as modern taxonomy, which are integral
parts of the study of zoology. 

Breakthroughs in DNA research during the 1900s have again revolutionized zoology, much in
the same way that the microscope did. Zoology today is a diverse field where specialties range
from animal behavior, to physiology and genetics, to simply specializing in only one group of
animals like mammals or reptiles. Paleontology is the study of the history of animals and their
evolution. Zoogeography is the branch of zoology concerned with the distribution of animals.
Zoology has a long history and has come a long way from its primitive origins in which humans
observed animals as a method of survival.

Notable zoologists
 Louis Agassiz (malacology, ichthyology)
 Aristotle
 Charles Darwin
 Richard Dawkins (ethology)
 Diane Fossey (primatology)
 William Kirby (father of entomology)
 Carolus Linnaeus (father of systematics)
 Konrad Lorenz (ethology)
 Ernst Mayr (1905-2005) (influential evolutionary biologist, one of the founders of the
"modern synthesis" of evolutionary theory in the 1940s.)
 Desmond Morris (ethology)
 E.O. Wilson(entomology, founder of sociobiology)

1.3 Difference between Zoology and Biology

Biology is the study of all living things, including plants, animals and microorganisms. Biology is
a branch of Science that is concerned with the study of all living things. Biology includes plants,
animals, their structure(even the finest details that is not visible to the naked eye),, function,
growth, evolution, reproduction, and taxonomy. Biology in turn is divided into many fields like-
Botany, molecular biology,biochemistry, ecology,etc

Zoology on the other hand is a sub branch of Biology which is the study of animals kingdom.
(zoo=animal and logos=study). Zoology deals with Anatomy of animals, their
behavior,invertebrate and vertebrate zoology,etc. Zoology is the study of only the Animal
kingdom. No plants or microbes

Comparison between Zoology and Biology:

 
Zoology Biology

Field Biology Natural Science

The branch of science that is

The branch of biology that
Description concerned with the study of life
studies the animal kingdom
and living organisms

The term is derived from The term is derived from the

Ancient Greek ζῷον, zōion, i.e. Greek word βίος, bios, "life" and
Etymology
"animal" and λόγος, logos, i.e. the suffix -λογία, -logia, "study
"knowledge, study".[1] of."

Scientist Zoologist Biologist

Studies Animals Life and all living organisms

Studies the animal kingdom,

including the structure, The study of life and living
embryology, evolution, organisms, including their
Field of Study classification, habits, and structure, function, growth,
distribution of all animals, both evolution, distribution,
living and extinct, and how they identification and taxonomy.
interact with their ecosystems.

Sub-disciplines  Zoography, also known  Biochemistry

as descriptive zoology,  Molecular biology
describes animals and their  Botany
habitats  Cellular biology
 Comparative anatomy  Physiology
studies the structure of  Evolutionary biology
animals  Ecology
 Animal physiology  Palaeontology
 Behavioral ecology  Zoology
 Ethology studies animal
 behavior
 Invertebrate zoology
 Vertebrate zoology
 Soil zoology
 Comparative zoology
 Mammalogy
 Herpetology
 Ornithology
 Entomology

Reference: Wikipedia (Zoology and Biology), Study, Chron

Image Courtesy: amnh.org, biology.iastate.edu

1.4 Specializations in Zoology

Here are the different branches of zoology and their definitions:

Anthrozoology is a study of interaction between humans and other animals. This sub-discipline
of zoology overlaps with anthropology, veterinary medicine, ethnology and zoology.

Arachnology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of spiders and related species
known as arachnids (such as scorpions, harvestmen, etc).

Archaeozoology is the study of dead animals (faunal remains) that includes their bones, shells
and other body parts. It is also known as zooarchaeology.

Bionics is the study of mechanical systems that function like living organisms or parts of living
organisms. It is the concept of applying biological methods and systems found in nature to the
study/design of engineering systems and modern technology.

Cetology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of marine mammals that include
whales, dolphins, porpoise, etc.

Embryology

The branch of zoology that studies the prenatal development of gametes (also known as sex
cells), fertilization, and development of embryos and fetuses.

Entomology is the study of insects. The following is the list of sub-branches of Entomology that
specializes in different types of insects.

Coleopterology (Beetles) is the Entomology sub-branch that concerns with the study of
beetles.

Dipterology (Flies) is the sub-discipline of Entomology that studies all types of flies.
 Hemipterology (True Bugs) is the sub-division of Entomology that studies true bugs or
hemiptera.

Isopterology (Termites) is the study of termites.

Lepidopterology (Butterflies) is a branch of Entomology that covers the study of

butterflies and moths.

Melittology (Bees) is the study of bees. It is also known as Apiology.

Myrmecology (Ants) is a sub-discipline of Entomology which focuses on the study of

ants.

Orthopterology (Grasshoppers) is a sub-discipline of Entomology which handles the

study of grasshoppers, crickets, etc.

Trichopterology (Caddis Flies) is a sub-branch of Entomology focusing on the study of

caddis flies.

Vespology (Wasps) is a sub-discipline of Entomology which specializes in the study of

wasps.

Ethology is a branch of zoology that deals with animal behavior under their natural habitats and
studying their behavior as an adaptive trait in evolution.

Helminthology is the study of parasitic worms (helminths) and deals with taxonomy of helminth
and the effect on their hosts.

Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.

Batrachology (Amphibians) is a branch of Herpetology concerns with the study of amphibians

alone.

Ophiology (Snakes) or Ophidiology is a sub-division of Herpetology which deals with the study
of ophidians or snakes.

Histology is the study of microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of animals and plants.

Ichthyology is a branch of zoology that covers the study of fish (also known as fish science).

Malacology is the study of Mollusca such as snails, slugs, octopus, clams, and all animals that
live in water with shells.

Conchology (Mollusk Shells) is a sub discipline of malacology that deals with the study of
mollusk shells only.

Mammalogy is the study of mammals and their characteristics. Mammalogy is also referred
as Mastology, Theriology or Therology.
Morphology is a branch of zoology dealing with the study of the form and structure of
organisms and their specific structural features.

Nematology is a sub-discipline of zoology that studies roundworms (nematodes).

Ornithology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of birds..

Palaeozoology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of fossil animals to identify
multi-cellular animals from geological perspective to establish prehistoric environments and their
ecosystems.

Pathology is the study of bodily fluids in laboratory such as blood, urine or tissues to diagnose
a disease. It further narrows down to plant pathology (for plants) and veterinary pathology (for
animals).

Primatology is a study of living and extinct primates (monkeys, apes, and prosimians).

Protozoology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of Protozoa (which are
unicellular organisms such as amoeba, etc.).

Taxonomy is a study that defines groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared
characteristics and giving names to those groups. Check out the levels of biological
organization in detail.

Zoogeography is the scientific study of geographical distribution of animal species (both

historic and contemporary) in the world.

Zoography is study of animals and their habitats (also known as descriptive zoology).

Zoometry is a sub-division of zoology that deals with measurements (length or size) of animal
parts.

Zootomy Human Anatomy is the study of the structure of humans and their various parts
whereas Zootomy specifically refers to animal anatomy.

Sources: https://www.bioexplorer.net/divisions_of_biology/zoology/

1.5 Zoology: An Evolutionary Perspective

A. Evolutionary Process

•1. Organic evolution- genetic change

•2. Subspecies adapt to survive in the same area.

 Animals share a common evolutionary past and evolutionary force that influenced their
history. Evolutionary processes are remarkable for their relative simplicity, yet they have had
awesome effects on life-forms. These processes have resulted in an estimated 4 to 100 million
species of animals living today. (Over 1 million animal species have been described.) Many
more, about 90%, existed in the past and have become extinct. Zoologists must understand
evolutionary processes if they are to understand what an animal is and how it originated.

SUBDISCIPLINE DESCRIPTION  Histology

Anatomy Study of tissues
Study of the structure of entire organisms Molecular biology
and their parts Study of subcellular details of animal
Cytology structure and function
Study of the structure and function of cells Parasitology
Ecology Study of animals that live in or on other
Study of the interaction of organisms with organisms at the expense of the host
their environment Physiology
Embryology Study of the function of organisms and their
Study of the development of an animal from parts
the fertilized egg to birth or hatching Systematics
Genetics Study of the classification of, and the
Study of the mechanisms of transmission of evolutionary interrelationships among,
traits from parents to offspring animal groups

TAXONOMIC CATEGORIES IN ZOOLOGY

Entomology Study of insects Mammalogy Study of mammals
Herpetology Study of amphibians and Omithology Study of birds
reptiles Protozoology Study of protozoa
Ichthyology Study of fishes

Organic evolution (L. evolutus, unroll) is change in the genetic makeup of populations

of organisms over time. It is the source of animal diversity, and it explains family relationships
within animal groups. Charles Darwin published convincing evidence of evolution in 1859 and
proposed a mechanism that could explain evolutionary change. Since that time, biologists have
become convinced that evolution occurs. The mechanism proposed by Darwin has been
confirmed and now serves as the nucleus of our broader understanding of evolutionary change

Evolution explains how the diversity of animals arose.

Evolutionary relationships are the basis for the classification of animals into a
hierarchical system. This classification system uses a two-part name for every kind of animal.
Higher levels of classification denote more distant evolutionary relationships

B. Animal Classification and Evolutionary relationship.

 Evolution not only explains why animals appear and function as they do, but it also
explains family relationships within the animal kingdom

•1. Could explain why organisms change

•2. Also explain how closely related 2 species are

•3. More DNA shared the closer the relationship

•4. Certain groups of subspecies come from 1 invading species.

•5. Binomial Nomenclature

–A. developed by Karl Linneus

–B. first part of scientific name is the genus second part is the species.

–C. world known naming system. 

1.6 Zoology: An Ecological Perspective

–A. Understanding how organisms interact

–B. Most organisms that are now extinct or endangered is a result of human activity.

Animals share common environments, and ecological principles help us to understand

how animals interact within those environments.

Human overpopulation is at the root of virtually all other environmental problems. It

stresses world resources and results in pollution, climate change, deforestation, and the
extinction of many plant and animal species.

Just as important to zoology as an evolutionary perspective is an ecological perspective.

Ecology (Gr. okios, house + logos, to study) is the study of the relationships between
organisms and their environment. Throughout our history, humans have depended on animals,
and that dependence too often has led to exploitation. We depend on animals for food,
medicines, and clothing. We also depend on animals in other, more subtle ways. This
dependence may not be noticed until human activities upset the delicate ecological balances
that have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years

World Resources and Endangered Animals

There is grave concern for the ecology of the entire world, not just Africa's greatest lakes. The
problems, however, are most acute in developing countries, which are striving to attain the
same wealth as industrialized nations. Two problems, global overpopulation and the exploitation
of world resources, are the focus of our ecological concerns.

Population
Global overpopulation is at the root of virtually all other environmental problems. Human
population growth is expected to continue in the twenty-first century. As the human population
grows, the disparity between the wealthiest and poorest nations is likely to increase.

World Resources

Human overpopulation is stressing world resources. Although new technologies continue to

increase food production, most food is produced in industrialized countries that already have a
high per-capita food consumption. Maximum oil production is expected to continue in this
millennium. Continued use of fossil fuels adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere,
contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Deforestation of large areas of the
world results from continued demand for forest products, fuel, and agricultural land.