In zoology, mammalogy is the study of mammals – a class of vertebrates with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, four-chambered hearts, and complex nervous systems. Mammalogy has also been known as "mastology," "theriology," and "therology."

Mammalogy branches off into other taxonomically-oriented disciplines such as primatology (study of primates), and cetology (study of cetaceans. There are many more.

Similar words

In English, words ending in -ology or -logy are presumed to refer to scientific study, but words can be created without any reference to any actual field of science. The name of an animal can be rendered in a Greek or Latin form and appended with -ology or -logy to create a Classical compound word, giving the subject the appearance of having the standing of a science. There is no limitation to or supervision of the creation of words in English. Words can be created that appear to refer to a scientific field of study, but do not. Classical compounds are sometimes meant to be humorous (as in "fleaology"). Other non-sciences given names of this form are sometimes used by animal fanciers and breeders. Examples of non-sciences given scientific-sounding names include hippology (used for a 4-H children's contest); cynology (infrequently used by dog trainers and dog fanciers); and felinology (used by cat fanciers.)

References/notes

See also

• Important publications in mammalogy
• Mammmal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa