zoological

Zoological is an adjective relating to zoology, the scientific study of animals, including their classification, distribution, physiology, behavior, and evolution. The term is used to describe things associated with animals or the field, such as zoological nomenclature, zoological gardens, and zoological collections. Zoology encompasses a broad range of subfields, including taxonomy and systematics, anatomy and physiology, ethology (animal behavior), ecology, development and evolution, and paleozoology, which studies animal life in the fossil record.

Researchers use comparative anatomy, genetics, molecular biology, field observation, and experimental approaches to understand animal form, function, relationships, and life histories. Data from zoological studies informs conservation, wildlife management, veterinary science, agriculture, and biodiversity policy. Advances in molecular techniques and computational methods have expanded the capacity to classify species, reconstruct evolutionary relationships, and monitor populations.

Institutions associated with zoological work include zoological societies, museums, and parks. The naming of animal species is governed by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). The term zoological also appears in descriptions of collections, research programs, and educational resources aimed at understanding animal life and its diversity. Overall, zoological study contributes to knowledge of animal biology and supports efforts in conservation, ecology, and veterinary science.