Branches of Zoology

    Zoology is the study of the animal kingdom, which includes the anatomy, physiology, evolution, characteristic, and classification of all living and extinct animals.

    Here are the different branches of zoology and their definitions:

    • Anthrozoology Human-Animal Interactions

      Anthrozoology

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

    • Arachnology Spiders

      Arachnology

      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 Dead Animals

      Archaeozoology

      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

      Bionics

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

    • Cetology (Marine Mammals)

      Cetology

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

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      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 (Insects)

      Entomology

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

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        Coleopterology (Beetles)

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

        Dipterology is the sub-discipline of Entomology that studies all types of flies.
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        Hemipterology (True Bugs)

        Hemipterology is the sub-division of Entomology that studies true bugs or Hemiptera.
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        Isopterology (Termites)

        Isopterology is the study of termites.
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        Lepidopterology (Butterflies)

        Lepidopterology is a branch of Entomology that covers the study of butterflies and moths.
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        Melittology (Bees)

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

        Myrmecology is a sub-discipline of Entomology that focuses on the study of ants.
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        Orthopterology (Grasshoppers)

        Orthopterology is a sub-discipline of Entomology which handles the study of grasshoppers, crickets, etc.
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        Trichopterology (Caddis Flies)

        Trichopterology is a sub-branch of Entomology focusing on the study of caddis flies.
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        Vespology (Wasps)

        Vespology is a sub-discipline of Entomology which specializes in the study of wasps.
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      Ethology

      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 (Parasites)

      Helminthology

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

    • Herpetology (Reptiles)

      Herpetology

      Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.

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        Batrachology (Amphibians)

        Batrachology is a branch of Herpetology concerned with the study of amphibians alone.
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        Ophiology (Snakes)

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

      Histology

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

    • Ichthyology (Fish)

      Ichthyology

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

    • Malacology (Mollusca)

      Malacology

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

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        Conchology (Mollusk Shells)

        Conchology is a sub-discipline of malacology that deals with the study of mollusk shells only.
    • Mammalogy (Mammals)

      Mammalogy

      Mammalogy is the study of mammals and their characteristics. Mammalogy is also referred as Mastology, Theriology or Therology.

    • Morphology (Animal Structures)

      Morphology

      Morphology is a branch of zoology dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.

    • Nematology (Roundworms)

      Nematology

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

    • Ornithology (Birds)

      Ornithology

      Ornithology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of birds. Check out the most colorful birds in the world.

    • Palaeozoology (Fossils)

      Palaeozoology

      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 (Analyze Blood, Urine, and Tissues)

      Pathology

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

    • Primatology (Apes)

      Primatology

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

    • Protozoology (Uni-Cellular)

      Protozoology

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

    • Taxonomy (Classification)

      Taxonomy

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

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      Zoogeography

      Zoogeography is the scientific study of the geographical distribution of animal species (both historical and contemporary) in the world.

    • Zoography (Animal Habitats)

      Zoography

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

    • Zoometry (Body Part Measurements)

      Zoometry

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

    • Zootomy (Animal Anatomy)

      Zootomy

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

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    BioExplorer.net. (2024, December 22). Branches of Zoology. Bio Explorer. https://www.bioexplorer.net/divisions_of_biology/zoology/.
    BioExplorer.net. "Branches of Zoology" Bio Explorer, 22 December 2024, https://www.bioexplorer.net/divisions_of_biology/zoology/.
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    2 COMMENTS

    1. […] turns out, there are twenty-six branches of zoology (see this BioExplorer article for the list.) One of them, entomology (the study of insects), has ten sub-specialties. (If your […]

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