A professional who studies origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, habits, life processes, diseases, relation to environment, growth and development, genetics, and distribution of animals. Responsibilities include:

• Studies animals in natural habitat and collects specimens for laboratory study.
• Dissects and examines specimens under microscope and uses chemicals and various types of scientific equipment to carry out experimental studies.
• Prepares collections of preserved specimens or microscopic slides for such purposes as identification of species, study of species development, and study of animal diseases.
• May raise specimens for experimental purposes.
• May specialize in one aspect of animal study, such as functioning of animal as an organism, or development of organism from egg to embryo stage.
• May specialize in study of reptiles, frogs, and salamanders and be designated Herpetologist; of fish and fishlike forms and be designated Ichthyologist; of sponges, jellyfish, and protozoa and be designated Invertebrate Zoologist; of birds and be designated Ornithologist; of mammals and be designated Mammalogist.
• May study animals for purposes of identification and classification and be designated Animal Taxonomist; or study effects of environment on animals and be designated Animal Ecologist.