What is zoology? What does science study zoology?

The modern organic world with its diverse biomass can be divided into five kingdoms of living nature :

• Animals;
• plants;
• Mushrooms;
• Bacteria;
• Viruses.

Each of them is studied by a whole complex of sciences. We will examine what sciences are involved in the study of representatives of the animal kingdom, how these disciplines are called, from whence emerged and what results have been achieved to date.

Science of zoology

The main science dedicated to the study of the diversity and way of life of animals is zoology. It is this foundation that holds the knowledge of our younger brothers.

What is zoology? One sentence is unlikely to be answered. After all, this is not just one dry science based on theory, it is a whole complex of sections and sub-sciences that collect materials about everything that concerns the animal world.

Therefore, the answer to this question can be something like this: zoology is the science of that part of the biomass of our planet that relates to animals. Thus, the object of studying zoology are all animals - from the simplest unicellular to multicellular mammals. The subject of this science is the study of the external and internal structure, physiological processes, the spread in nature, the way of life and behaviors, the interaction between themselves and the surrounding world.

Goals and objectives of science

To understand more fully what zoology is, its goals and tasks as sciences will help. The objectives are as follows:

• To study the features of the functioning, structure, embryonic and historical development of all representatives of animals;
• To consider ways of adapting to environmental conditions and to trace the features of ethology;
• Determine their role in the system of the organic world;
• To reveal the role of man in the protection and protection of the animal world.

In connection with the goal, the tasks of zoology are:

1. The study of the external and internal structure, as well as the physiological characteristics of all animal species.
2. Comparison of their needs and their habitats.
3. Establishing the meaning and role of individual groups in nature and human economic activity.
4. Conduct an analysis of the systematics of wildlife , identify the most vulnerable groups, ensure their protection and protection.

Having considered the goals, objectives, object and object of zoology, it can be confidently said that zoology is studied by the animal world in all its manifestations.

Classification of zoological sections

More than two million species of animals are known. Each has its own unique features, and when interacting with each other, they generally represent a unique system. The study of such a system requires a lot of time and effort. This is the work of a huge number of people. Therefore, all science is a special section of zoology.

Their classification is based on two basic principles: the object of study and the tasks for science. Consider both.

Classification by objects for study

1. Mammology (theriology) is the science of animals of the mammalian class.
2. Herpetology - about reptiles and amphibians.
3. Ichthyology is about fish.
4. Ornithology - about birds (birds).
5. Entomology - about insects.
6. Acarology is about ticks.
7. Arachnology is about arachnids.
8. Malacology - about sea and ocean molluscs.
9. Carcinology - about crustaceans.
10. Protozoology - about unicellular (protozoans).
11. Helminthology - about parasitic worms.

Classification of zoological sections by tasks

There is also a classification of zoological sections for tasks for science. It consists of the following categories:

• Systematics - a section that deals with the classification and definition of a place in the system of the organic world for each representative of animals;
• Zoogeography - a science that studies their distribution and distribution across the territory of our planet;
• Morphology - a science that studies the characteristics of the external and internal structure;
• Phylogenetics - studies the foundations of the origin and historical development of the animal kingdom;
• Genetics - examines the patterns of heredity and variability in all generations;
• Histology - studies the cellular structure of tissues;
• Paleozoology - the science of fossil remains and extinct animals of all periods of the planet's life;
• Cytology - the science of the cell and its structure;
• Ethology - studies the features of behavioral mechanisms in animals in different situations;
• Embryology - deals with embryos and the establishment of similarities and differences between all representatives of the animal world on the basis of embryonic analysis, as well as features of ontogenesis;
• Ecology - studies the interaction of animals among themselves, as well as the adaptability to the conditions of the surrounding world and interaction with man;
• Physiology - features of all life processes;
• Anatomy - studies the internal structure of animals.

Zoology of vertebrates

What is the zoology of vertebrates? This is a section that deals with the study of all representatives of the animal world, having a chord (during life transformed into a vertebral column with the spinal cord).

The tasks of this academic discipline include acquaintance of students with external and internal features of all classes of vertebrates, their behavior and way of life, distribution and role in nature and human life.

The main distinguishing features of vertebrates, which are characteristic only of this group, are the following:

1. Only they have a chord - the progenitor of the spine. In some species, it remains for life, but the majority develops into the spine.
2. The nervous system of such animals is clearly differentiated on the brain and spinal cord (with the exception of strictly chordates, in which it remains always in the form of a nervous cords over the chord).
3. The digestive system in representatives of different classes opens outward with a mouth opening on the front part of the body, the end of the digestive tube is transformed in marine inhabitants into gills. At the ground, the lungs form.
4. All representatives have a heart - the center of the circulatory system.

It is precisely these animals that are devoted to the division of zoology about vertebrates.

Zoology of invertebrate animals

What does zoology of invertebrate animals study? It features the structure, lifestyle and meaning in nature of all animals that do not have the above characteristics. Such animals include representatives of the following types:

• Sponges;
• coelenterates;
• Ringed, round and flat worms;
• Mollusks;
• echinoderms;
• Arthropods (arachnids, insects, crustaceans).

Invertebrates make up most of all known animals. In addition, they play an important role in human economic activity.

Also, many representatives of invertebrates are pests that bring people great troubles (parasitic worms, eater and crop and so on).

That is why the study of invertebrates is of great importance and is of great scientific interest.

Zoology of Protozoa

The simplest include all single-celled animals. Namely:

• Sarcomastigophores (amoebas, rays, foraminifera, sunspots);
• Flagellates (wolvox, euglena, trypanosome, opaline);
• Infusoria (ciliated and sucking infusoria);
• Sporoviki (gregarins, coccidia, toxoplasm, malarial plasmodium).

Some amoebas, infusorians and all sporoviki are dangerous pathogens of serious diseases in humans and animals. Therefore, a detailed study of their life cycle, methods of nutrition and reproduction is an important part in the search for methods to combat them. That is why the zoology of the protists is no less important branch of science than all the rest.

Brief essay on the development of science

This science is very entertaining. Zoology fascinated and seduced many minds at all times. And this, of course, is justified. After all, watching our little brothers is really a very interesting and useful activity.

The main stages that the development of zoology has undergone are not much different from those in other sciences. These are the main four periods:

1. Ancient time. Ancient Greece - Aristotle, Ancient Rome - Pliny the elder.
2. The Middle Ages are a time of stagnation. All sciences were under the influence of the church, the study of all living things was strictly forbidden.
3. The Renaissance is the most active period in the development of zoology. A lot of theoretical and practical data about the life of animals have been accumulated, basic laws have been formulated, taxonomy and taxa introduced, the binary nomenclature of names of animals and plants. The most notable names in this period were: Charles Darwin, Jean Baptiste Lamarque, Carl Linnaeus, Georges Cuvier, John Ray, Saint-Hilaire, Anton van Leeuwenhoek.
4. New time refers to the XIX-XX century. This is the period of development of knowledge about the molecular and genetic structure of animals, the discovery of biogenetic laws and mechanisms of embryonic and physiological development of animals of all types. The loudest names are Sechenov, Haeckel and Müller, Mechnikov, Kovalevsky.

Modern zoology

The XXI century is the time of digital technologies and the triumph of unique super-powerful technology. This gives great advantages to all sciences that study wildlife, but at the same time poses new tasks for them.

What is the zoology of the modern stage of development? This is a science that is preparing to answer the questions:

• What is the animal kingdom?
• By what laws does he live and what features does he have?
• How can a person without harm to nature use the animal diversity of the world for his own purposes?
• Is it possible to artificially recreate lost (extinct) species of animals?

The search for answers will take scientists a very long time, despite the possession of such a perfect technique.

The importance of zoology is difficult to overestimate. Already more than once it was mentioned above about what a big role it plays in people's lives, their health and economic activities. It has been studied for centuries and will always be studied, because there are still a very large number of unresolved animal issues.