| Tools | Microscope • field equipment • research journals • conservation databases • magic artifacts |
| Subfields | Anatomy • physiology • behavioral ecology • paranormal investigation • mythical creatures research |
| Collaboration | Paranormal researchers • psychics • magical communities |
| Practitioners | |
| Primary focus | Animals, cryptids, and mythical creatures |
| Related fields | Ethology • Herpetology • Cryptozoology • Ichthyology • Mammalogy • Ornithology • Primatology |
| Scientific field | |
| Education requirements | Bachelor's degree in biology or related field |
Zoology is the branch of biology dealing with the scientific study of the real and mythical animal kingdom, including the structure, classification, distribution, and behavior of animals. In this timeline, zoology has evolved to incorporate various divisions and specializations, including diverse subfields such as cryptozoology, aquatic zoology, ornithology, and herpetology among numerous others.
Zoology, as a modern field that encompasses both real and fantastical creatures, has grown to involve collaboration with a range of disciplines and communities. Practitioners commonly work closely with paranormal researchers, psychics, and magical communities including mages and druids. Key areas of investigation include not only the biology of known animal species, but the potential existence of cryptids - enigmatic or legendary creature whose existence is often dismissed by mainstream science.
Zoologists in this reality employ a wide range of scientific and supernatural tools and methods in their work. These may include conventional biology and ecology tests and measurements, but also divination techniques, spectral analysis, and energy scanning machinery. The scope of this discipline encompasses the study of all possible creature species, from those that are well-documented to those that exist solely in legends and tales.
While zoology as a scientific field has roots in the work of Ancient Greek scholars and naturalists of the 18th and 19th centuries, this timeline's zoology took on a more distinctive shape in the Middle Ages. In this period, increasing interactions between "ordinary" and supernatural communities led to a greater acknowledgment of the existence of mythical creatures, fueled by reports of encounters with the unknown. This drove a more mystical and expansive approach to the study of the natural world.
Despite encountering some skepticism, scholarly interest in cryptids grew throughout history and led to the establishment of the International Academy for Magical and Mythological Zoology (IAMMZ) in the 20th century, a collaboration of magicians, scientists, and academics dedicated to the study and documentation of both mundane and fantastical fauna. The work of this organization has since been instrumental in expanding our understanding of the real and mythical creatures around us.
Zoologists in this alternate reality have dedicated significant time and effort to studying the possibility of mythical creatures, balancing the pursuit of evidence with caution and scientific inquiry. Some notable cases examined by cryptozoologists include the reported sightings of wyverns, griffins, and centaurs. While not all such investigations yield clear-cut results, the work of cryptozoologists has made significant strides in documenting and cataloging encounters with fantastic or unexplained creatures.
The methods employed by zoologists in this timeline range from traditional biological techniques, such as taxonomy and behavioral observation, to collaborations with other supernatural communities and the use of magical tools and techniques. These may include telekinesis, mind reading, and clairvoyance for gathering information about elusive or unreachable animals. Other magical rituals and artifacts can be used to uncover hidden creatures or glean additional knowledge about the natural world.
Constituting a diverse field of study, zoology is strongly associated with many other disciplines, such as botany, genetics, and paleontology, in order to develop a more complete understanding of the animal kingdom. Collaborations with cryptobiology, paranormal research, and astrology can further enrich the insights gained from the study of the natural world, making zoology an integral and interconnected part of the wider study of life on Earth.
Some of the most celebrated figures in the study of zoology emerge from this alternate timeline, including Iris Verdant, a renowned cryptozoologist who challenged established views regarding the existence of mythical creatures, and Giovanni Oculus, a magician-scientist responsible for groundbreaking advances in the use of divination to understand the behavior of rare animal species. Their work, alongside many other notable researchers, has helped widen the scope of zoological knowledge and curiosity in the pursuit of truth about animals both real and fantastical.
