Zoology: Definition, History, Importance, Branches, & Examples
Definition of Zoology
Zoology is defined as the science that deals with the study of animals related to their structure, behaviour, classification, and interaction with the environment.
What is Zoology?
Zoology is the study of biology that deals with the different aspects of animals. This is a vast discipline that learns about the interaction between animals and their environments, classification, physiology, behaviour, and evolution. The zoologists trace the mystery in nature by studying the various lives of animals, which helps our understanding of the balance in nature that sustains ecosystems.
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Zoology as a branch of science, began in ancient Greece with the philosopher Aristotle, called the father of Zoology. He was the first to introduce a system for classifying living organisms, dividing them mainly into two groups, animals and plants. Animals, according to Aristotle, were further classified animals based on how they moved, they walked, flew, and swam. This system lasted until the 16th century.
The study of Zoology progressed further with the 16th and 17th century age of Enlightenment as scientific studies provided better means of classification. Animals in the kingdom Animalia were classified into a five-kingdom system further organised into phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
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Branches of Zoology
Zoology includes many sub-disciplines, each dealing with particular aspects of animal life. Some of the main branches of zoology include:
Branch of Zoology | Description |
Study of the internal and external structures of animals. | |
Study of the functions and processes of animal organs and systems. | |
Examination of the relationships between animals and their environments. | |
Entomology | Study of insects, their behaviour, anatomy, and ecology. |
Herpetology | Study of reptiles and amphibians, focusing on their biology and ecology. |
Ornithology | Study of birds, including their behaviour, anatomy, and ecology. |
Ichthyology | Study of fish, covering their biology and ecological roles. |
Mammalogy | Study of mammals, including their physiology, behaviour, and conservation. |
Paleontology | Study of fossils and extinct animals, providing insights into evolutionary history. |
Taxonomy and Classification | Classification and naming of animals based on shared characteristics. |
Aetiology | Study of animal behaviour, focusing on natural environments and evolutionary implications. |
Classification of the Animal Kingdom
There are different species in the animal kingdom, each with certain unique characteristics and adaptations. The classification system followed in zoology works to systematically organise and understand how these various animals relate to one another. Major groups within the animal kingdom include:
Vertebrates Groups: Those animals that have a backbone, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.
Invertebrates: Those that do not have a backbone, including insects, molluscs, and worms.
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Characteristics of Animals
Animals have certain distinctive features which can help distinguish them from other life forms. These are listed as under:
Multicellular Structure: Animals possess more than one cell which co-operatively performs many functions
Heterotrophic Nutrition: They cannot produce their food and rely on other living sources for deriving energy
Mobility: Most animals can have locomotion skills at some stages of their lives.
Nervous System: Most animals have a developed nervous system to process information and respond to the environment.
Sensory Organs: Well-developed sense organs make it possible for an animal to perceive the surroundings in which it may be living.
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Examples of Animal Kingdom
The animal kingdom consists of a large number of species. Each animal is specially adapted to certain conditions that constitute the environment of an individual. Grouping into different categories makes identification and studies easier. These are grouped into the following examples:
Examples of Animal Kingdom | Groups Included | Examples |
Warm-blooded animals with mammary glands | Humans (Homo sapiens), Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), Elephants (Loxodonta spp.) | |
Birds | Feathered vertebrates, often capable of flight | Eagles (Aquila spp.), Sparrows (Passeridae), Penguins (Sphenicidae) |
Cold-blooded vertebrates with scaly skin | Snakes (Serpentes), Turtles (Testudines), Crocodiles (Crocodylidae) | |
Vertebrates that can live both on land and in water | Frogs (Anura), Salamanders (Caudata) | |
Fishes | Aquatic vertebrates with gills | Goldfish, Sharks, Clownfish |
Insects | The most diverse group of animals | Butterflies (Lepidoptera), Ants (Formicidae) |
Arachnids | Eight-legged invertebrates | Spiders, Scorpions |
Soft-bodied invertebrates, often with shells | Snails, Clams, Octopuses | |
Marine invertebrates with radial symmetry | Starfish, Sea urchins |
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Zoology for NEET 2025
The Zoology section makes up a major portion of the Biology section, which is 360 out of 720 marks in total. For NEET preparation, studying the NCERT textbooks thoroughly is important. Understanding key Zoology concepts and practising previous years' questions helps to score well in this section.
NEET Zoology Preparation
To prepare effectively for Zoology in NEET 2025, the first step is to understand the NEET Zoology syllabus, which includes chapters from CBSE Class 11 and 12 Biology. Mastering the topics and concepts from these classes is a must for success. Build a strong concept understanding of human physiology, reproduction, evolution, and animal classification to perform well in the NEET Zoology section.
Class 11 Zoology Chapters for NEET 2025
Given below is the list of important Botany chapters of class 11 syllabus for NEET Exam preparation:
Class 12 Zoology Chapters for NEET 2025
Given below is the list of important Zoology chapters of class 12 syllabus for NEET Exam preparation:
Best Zoology Books for the NEET Exam
The best Zoology books for NEET preparation are:
Trueman's Objective Biology
Dinesh Objective Biology
Biology by Campbell and Reece
MTG's NCERT at Your Fingertips
These books provide a strong foundation and practice material for mastering Zoology for NEET.
Recommended Videos Related to Zoology
Animal Kingdom
The Animal Kingdom includes the classification of animals based on their characteristics, such as body symmetry, germ layers, coelom, and segmentation.
This video is important for NEET as it explains concepts frequently asked in the exam, including animal classification, examples, and key adaptations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Zoology pronunciation is "zoh-OL-uh-jee.
Animals and their physiology, behaviour, as well as their ecosystem.
Aristotle is considered to be the father of zoology since he found a way of positioning animal classification.
Zoology explains the animal kingdom as well as the balance of the ecosystem, which is essential for creating conservation efforts.
A zoology major can help pursue careers in wildlife conservation, conducting research into veterinary sciences, and much more.