The branches of zoology and what do each study study

From ancient times man begins to be interested in animals and their great diversity. The history of zoology It begins in the fourth century AC in Ancient Greecewhen Aristotle Describe numerous animal species and performs one of the first classification sketches of the animal kingdom. However, much of their conclusions had no scientific rigor because they were not based on experiments.

Already in the Renaissance, the Research in Zoology They adopted a true scientific rigor and some of the theories previously raised by Aristotle and some of the fantasy concepts that were held until that moment were discarded. A fundamental invention for the development of this science was that of microscope by the Dutchman Anton Van Leeuwehoek, who allowed access to the study of animal tissues and microorganisms

In the 18th century, the Swedish Carlos Linneo was the pioneer in addressing a systematic classification of animals and plants that inhabit the planet in a work that continued the French naturalist George Cuvier. In 1859, Charles Darwin and his theory of the evolution of species contributed great advance to zoology studies.

At the moment, Zoology studies animals From points of view as morphological and anatomical descriptions of the different species, their functioning, their various systems and organs, their behavior, their distribution, their ecology and, finally, their taxonomic classification in the various groups. Therefore, we can divide zoology into two main subdivisions: General zoology and descriptive zoology.

The general zoology Study all the generic and common aspects of the various animal species without making a taxonomic classification. In turn, it is subdivided into various branches. These are the main branches of general zoology and what they study:

Morphology

This branch studies the external and structure forms of the various organs or organisms, that is, it describes both the external physical form and the arrangement of the body’s body parts.

Anatomy

This branch studies the structure, size, disposal, shape, relationships, situation and number of the external and internal parts of the bodies (also of the human being). We can in turn divide it into:

• Comparative anatomy: Study the similarities and differences that exist between human organs and that of other animals.
• Pathological anatomy: Study of organic dysfunctions caused by disease.
• Descriptive anatomy: Describe the form, relationships, disposition and extension of the different organs.
• Topographic anatomy: Study the relations of place between the different organs.

Histology

This branch studies the composition and structure of body tissues. The first microscopic studies date from 1668 with the observation of cells similar to cells (later called cells) by the English physicist Robert Hooke. Already in 1839 the German physiologist and anatomist Theodor Schwann, establishes the principles of the cellular organization of living beings.

Physiology

This branch studies the physiological functions of animal organisms, that is, the physical and chemical processes that are developed in animals. The antiquity doctor Claudio Galeno is considered the first physiologist in history. He was a great expert in dissections and anatomist, who studies the physiology of animals such as dogs, apes and pigs.

Embryology

This branch studies the formation and development of the animal embryo. It can be descriptive, compared or experimental.

Genetics

Study the phenomena of variation and inheritance in animal organisms. It can be applied to inheritance within populations or a specific organism.

Ethology

Study the behavior of different animals in their environment and the mechanisms that determine their behaviors.

Ecology

Study relationships between different animal organisms and with their environment. Know more about this science in this other ecology article about ecology: what is, its branches and what each one studies.

This subdivision studies aspects such as Taxonomic classifications of animals, their distributions and the specific descriptions of the different groups. These are the branches of descriptive zoology and what they study:

Systematic or taxonomy

This branch deals with the classification of the different animals and is based for it in morphological, anatomical, cytogenetic comparisons (chromosomes), etc. Divide groups into kingdoms, edges, classes, orders, families, genres and species. It also accepts intermediate categories such as subclasses or superorders.

Zoogeography

Study the geographical distribution of the different animal groups.

Paleozoology

Study animal fossils. In turn, it can be divided by groups of organisms.

Phylogeny

Study the affiliation relations and the evolution of animal forms, that is, the progressive evolution of simpler ways to the most complex.

Parasitology

Study parasitism relationships and live parasitic organisms such as protozoa, arthropods and helminths. Excludes prokaryotes, fungi and viruses (microbiology)

Mastozoology

Study both land and aquatic or marine mammals, that is, class Mammalia.

Ichthyology

Study fish. It includes osteictios (bone fish, they are the majority), condricts (cartilaginous fish such as shark or stripes) and agnates (fish devoid of jaws).

Entomology

Study insects from the genetic, morphological, physiological, taxonomic or ecological point of view.

MELACOLOGY

Study mollusks, which is the second largest edge in number of described species.

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