The science of zoology

The science of zoology

introduction
• Zoology is the branch of
biology that deals with
the study of animal
kingdom, including the
structure, embryology,
evolution, classification,
habits, and distribution
of all animals, both
living and extinct.
 The history of zoology
• Study of zoology began
with ancient cultures
• Aristotle was the first to
classify living things
• Divided plants and
animals
• Classified organisms by
their similarities
 Three distinct episodes
• Ancient science age(also
known as the Hellenic period
or around 400-330 BC)
• Aristotle will serve as the
main focus of this time, the
father of zoology
• Medieval period (around the
early to late middle ages
1200)
• Early modern era (between
15th and 17th centuries)
Ancient science
 Ancient science
• These famous carving are found in
various places from different
individuals.
• During stone age from 1.8 millions
years to 18000 years BC. There
were several examples of deer
reproduction in parietal art.
• Aristotle (382-322)created his
history of animals that zoology
become a science.
• In his work , he collected all the
known facts about approximately
500 animals and divided the first
known classification system.
 Ancient science
• These famous carving are found in
various places from different
individuals.
• During stone age from 1.8 millions
years to 18000 years BC. There
were several examples of deer
reproduction in parietal art.
• Aristotle (382-322)created his
history of animals that zoology
become a science.
• In his work , he collected all the
known facts about approximately
500 animals and divided the first
known classification system.
1.2: Definition, nature, scope and meaning of
zoology
• Biology is a science devoted to the study of living
organisms. Science progressed by breaking down
complex subjects into their component parts and so
today there are numerous branches of biology which
are Zoology, Botany, Microbiology.
• Zoology (zoon-animal and logos-study)is the branch
of biology that deals with study of various aspects of
animals.
• The aim of zoology is to explain the animal world in
terms of scientific principles.
1.2: Definition, nature, scope and meaning of
zoology
• Zoology is studied as a pure science (knowledge
gaining) and it has application in other branches such
as euphenics , eugenics, biotechnology,
bioenergetics, bioinformatics and etc.
• As applied science it has tremendous scope in
agriculture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, human
health, disease, veterinary science, apiculture,
sericulture, pharmacology, and animal breeding.
 1.3: Branches of zoology

• Lamarck (1809), a French biologist coined the term

biology”, which means the study of living organisms.
• This diverse science which deals with all aspects of
animal life has several sub-branches.
• Sub-branches of zoology:
1. Taxonomy (taxis-arrangement, nomos-rule or law)is
the theory and practice of identification,
nomenclature and classification of organisms. The
term taxonomy was coined by A.p.de candolle.
 Branches of zoology

2. Morphology (morphos-form;logos study)is the study of

the form, size, shape, color, and structure of various
organisms and their tissues, organ, organ-system.
3. histology (histos-tissue; logos study)is the study of the
microscopic structure of different tissues. This branch
is also referred to as microanatomy”.
4. Cytology (kytos-cells)is the study of the form and
structure of cells and cell organelles.
5. Physiology (physis-nature of functioning)is the study
different functioning of the body.
 Branches of zoology

6. Anatomy (Ana-up; tome-cutting)is the study of the internal

arrangement of different organs or organ-system.
7.Embryology (embryon-embryo)and developmental biology
deals with the formation and development of embryo.
8. Evolution (e-out; volva-roll)is the study of the origin of life
and continuous genetic adaptations of organisms to the
enviroment.
9. Paleontology (paleo-ancient; on-being)is the study of
fossilized remains of organisms of the past geological ages.
 Branches of zoology

10. Ecology (oikos-house)is the study of living

organisms in relation to their environment. Haeckel
coined.
11. Genetics (gen-to grow into)is the study of
inheritance of characters from one generation to the
next. It deals with heredity and variations. Bateson
coined.
12. Ethology (ethos-character)is the study of the animal
behavior based on the systematic observation.
 Animal diversity
• To estimate the number of
animals in nature is not possible.
• Many of them inhabit the earth
today and many others have
lived here during the past.
• These animals vary very much in
their shape, size, habit, habitat,
colour, form and weight as well
as in their distribution.
• Diversity amongst animals does
not exist in their shape and size
only but also their species,
number and habitat.
 Animal diversity
• Animals are different
inhabitant, some animals
live in: following water :
lotic, those living in
stagnant water :lentic,
amongst the marine
animals a few living near
the water surface: pelagic,
those living in depth of
oceanic water : abyssal,
 Animal diversity
• A few living near oceanic water
are littoral, others living sea-
bottom are benthic, others living
under surface of earth are
subterranean, others living in on
earth surface are terrestrial,
others flying in air are aerial,
while others digging in habit are
fossorial,.
 Classification of Animals

• Need of classification
• The animal kingdom is well
arranged and is very systematic so
different animals are divided into
minor and major groups on the
basis of similarities and differences
and each group is given a
particular name depending upon
their characteristics.
• For example different kinds of
birds are included a class aves
based on their structural and
physiological similaraties.
 Animals With Backbones

• Animals with backbones are

called vertebrates.
• Vertebrates include many
different kinds of animals. They
can be found just about
everywhere – in oceans, rivers,
forests, mountains, and deserts.
• Animals with backbones can be
broken up into smaller groups by
characteristics.
• They are:
 Fish Characteristics

• They are the largest group of

vertebrates.
• They come in many sizes and
shapes.
• Many fish are covered with scales
that protects them.
• They have fins that help them to
steer and balance in the water.
• Their body temperatures vary in
the water.
• They breathe through gills.
 Amphibian Characteristics
• Their body temperature
varies with their
surroundings.
• Amphibians hatch from eggs
and they can live on land as
an adult.
• Young amphibians breathe
through gills like fish.
• Adult amphibians breathe
air from lungs.
• Some have smooth moist
skin.
 Reptile Characteristics
• Reptiles can move at various
speeds.
• They lay their eggs on land.
• They have dry scaly skin.
• They can include animals as
large as a crocodile.
• Their body temperature
varies with their environment.
• They live in hot, dry deserts
and in warm, wet tropical rain
forests.
 Bird Characteristics
• Birds lay hard shelled eggs that
hatch in their nest.
• There are about 9,000 types of
birds.
• Birds are vertebrates that have
wings and they are covered
with feathers. No other animal
has this feature.
• The bird’s skeleton is very light
in weight. This helps them to
fly.
• Birds range in size from as small
as your finger or as large as a
human.
 Mammal Characteristics
• They include a wide range of
animals: lions, kangaroos,
bats, and etc.
• Their young grows inside the
mother.
• Humans are mammals but
they (animals) have more hair
than we do.
• The hair keeps the animals
warm.
• They feed milk to their young.
 Invertebrate Classification
• What is an Invertebrate?
• Invertebrates are animals
that do not have backbones.
• 97 % of the animal kingdom
is made up of invertebrates.
• Some can be found in
ponds, oceans, and other
water environments.
• Insects and some other
invertebrates have
exoskeletons.
 Invertebrates
• These are animals without a backbone
• There are eight groups of invertebrates

– Molluscs
– Flatworms
– Annelids
– Roundworms
– Sponges
– Echinoderms
– Cnidarians
– Arthropods
 Brief history of classification
• The greek philosopher
aristotle(384-322 BC), known as
father of zoology in his book
Historia animalium classified
animals and this was followed for
about 2000 years.
• Following was his system of
classification
• Group 1.Enaima.it included the
vertebrate animals having red
coloured blood.
• Class 1.viviparous: animals which
give birth to young ones e.g man,
whale, and other mammmals.
 Brief history of classification
• Class 2. oviparous: egg laying
animals e.g amphibians,
reptiles, fishes, and aves.
• Group 2: aniama it included
the invertebrate animals
without red coloured blood.
• Class 1:cephalopoda. Molluscs
• Class 2: crustacea. Crabs and
shrimps.
• Class 3: insects and spiders. It
included different types of
insects.
 Brief history of classification
• Class 4: mollusca and echinodermata.it includes
other molluscs and star fish.
• Class 5: sponges coelenterata. It included sponges
and sea animones.
 Taxonomy
• The study of identification and relationship
among living organisms is called systematics.
• The term systematics was used by linnaeus
(1707-1778).
• The branch of biology dealing with
identification, nomenclature and classification of
organisms is called taxonomy.
• The term taxonomy was coined by A.P.de
candolle(1813).
• It is derived from greek words (taxis,
arrangement, and nomos, law).
• The classical systematics(old systematics )was
coined by plato and aristotle and was acepted
by linnaeus.
• The concept of new systematics (neosystematics
and biosystematics) was given by J.Huxley
(1940) it deals with subspecies and populations
to explain population systematics.
• New systematics has led to new branches of
taxonomy like morphotaxonomy,
karyotaxonomy,cytotaxonomy.
Taxonomy
 Nomenclature
• It is estimated that the number of species known and described
ranges between 1.7 to 1.8 million.
• They are called by their local names (in regional language),
which vary from place to place and even within same country.
• So there is need to standardize the naming pattern of living
organisms such that a particular organism is known same name
all over the world/universally.
• This process of naming animals with distinctive (scientific) name
is called nomenclature.
• Naming of organisms is done as per the guide lines of the
international code of zoology nomenclature (ICZN).
 Binomial nomenclature
• Carolus linnaeus a swedish botanist
popularised the binomial nomenclature, by
using it in his 10th edition of his book systema
naturae.
• It is the type of nomenclature in which each
organism is provided with an appropriate
scientific name consisting of two components,
the binomen’.
• The first word refers to the genus (pl:genera)
 Binomial nomenclature
• Bi means two
• Nomen means name
• A binomial nomenclature is a classification
system using two names to identify an organism.
• Canis familiaris is the scientific name for a
domestic dog.
• Canis is the genus name
• familiaris is the species name
• This system uses a binomial nomenclature
 Nomenclature of organisms
• There are two types of names of organisms
• Comon or vernacular names
• Scientific names
• Mononomial nomenclature
• Bionomial nomenclature
• Trinomial nomenclature
 Rules of scientific nomenclature
• The scientific name(generic and specific)both should
be written or printed in italics.
• The generic name must be start capital letter and
specific name small letter.
• The generic name should be followd by specific name
• In case different scientist have named the same
genus or species differently, the first published name
should be accepted.