Zoologyis the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. The term is derived from Ancient Greek: zoo, i.e. “animal” and logos, i.e. “knowledge, study”
Branches of Taxonomically-Oriented Disciplines
- biological anthropology - study of humans, its ancestors, and related non-human primates
- mammalogy - study of mammals
- ornithology - study of birds
- entomology - study of insects. term derived from Greek: ento, i.e. “within” → entomon, i.e. “insect”
- herpetology - study of reptiles and amphibians. term derived from Greek: herpein, i.e. “to creep” → herpeton, i.e. “reptile”
- ichthyology - study of fish