Mammalogy
Study of mammals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In zoology, mammalogy, from Latin mamma, meaning "breast", and -logy from λόγος (lógos), meaning "study", is the study of mammals – a class of vertebrates with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, mammary glands, four-chambered hearts, and complex nervous systems.[1][2] The archive of the number of mammals on earth is constantly growing, but is currently set at 6,495 different mammal species including recently extinct.[3] There are 5,416 living mammal species identified on earth and roughly 1,251 have been newly discovered since 2006.[3] The major branches of mammalogy include natural history, taxonomy and systematics, anatomy and physiology, ethology, ecology, and management and control.[4] Mammalogists are typically involved in activities such as conducting research, managing personnel, and writing proposals.[5][6]
Mammalogy branches off into other taxonomically oriented disciplines such as primatology (the study of primates), and cetology (the study of cetaceans). Like other studies, mammalogy is also a part of zoology which is also a part of biology, the study of all living things.
Research purposes
Mammalogists have stated that there are multiple reasons for the study and observation of mammals. Knowing how mammals contribute to or thrive in their ecosystems gives knowledge on the ecology behind it.[7] Mammals are often used in business industries, agriculture, and kept for pets. Studying mammals habitats and sources of energy has led to aiding in survival. The domestication of some small mammals has also helped discover several different diseases, viruses, and cures.[8]
Mammalogist
A mammalogist studies and observes mammals. In studying mammals, they can observe their habitats, contributions to the ecosystem, their interactions, and their anatomy and physiology. A mammalogist can do a broad variety of things within the realm of mammals. A mammalogist on average can make roughly $58,000 a year. This depends on the employer and the state.[9][10]
History
The first people recorded to have researched mammals were the ancient Greeks with records on mammals that were not even native to Greece and others that were. Aristotle was one of the first to recognize whales and dolphins as mammals since up until the 18th century most of the study was done by taxonomy.[11]
Since then, there has been a continuation of studies through groups like the American Society of Mammalogists formed in 1919.[12] These groups aided in bringing more structure to mammalogy by allowing more centralization of research. This was seen in ASM with the number of members increasing significantly in the first decade after its formation.[12]
Journals
This is a list of scientific journals broadly serving mammalogists. In addition, many other more general zoology, ecology and evolution, or conservation journals also deal with mammals, and several journals are specific to only certain taxonomic groups of mammals.
| Journal | Organization | Publication schedule | Impact factor | First issue | Open access | Page charges | Online ISSN | Print ISSN | Former name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal of Mammalogy | American Society of Mammalogists | Bimonthly | 2.308 | 1919 | Option | Yes | 1545-1542 | 0022-2372 | none |
| Mammal Review | The Mammal Society | Quarterly | 3.919 | 1970 | Option | No | 1365-2907 | – | none |
| Mammalian Biology | German Society for Mammalian Biology | Bimonthly | 1.337 | 1935 | Option | No | 1616-5047 | – | Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde |
| Mammalia | – | Quarterly | 0.824 | 1936 | Option | No | 1864-1547 | – | none |
| Mammal Research | Polish Academy of Sciences | Quarterly | 1.161 | 1954 | Option | No | 2199-241X | 2199-2401 | Acta Theriologica |
| Mammal Study | Mammal Society of Japan | Quarterly | 0.426 | 1959 | No | No | 1348-6160 | 1343-4152 | Journal of the Mammalogical Society of Japan |
| Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy | Italian Theriological Association | Quarterly | 0.593 | 1986 | Yes | No | 1825-5272 | – | none |
| Galemys, Iberian Journal of Mammalogy | Spanish Society of Mammalogists | Annually | – | 1988 | Yes | No | 2254-8408 | – | none |
| Lutra | Dutch Mammal Society | Biannually | – | 1957 | Yes | No | – | – | none |
| Australian Mammalogy | Australian Mammal Society | Biannually | – | 1972 | No | No | 1836-7402 | 0310-0049 | none |
| Acta Theriologica Sinica | Mammalogical Society of China | Quarterly | – | 1981 | Yes | No | 1000-1050 | – | none |
| Brazilian Journal of Mammalogy | Brazilian Society of Mammalogists | Annually | – | 1985 | Yes | No | 2764-0590 | – | Boletim da Sociedade Brasileira de Mastozoologia |
| Theriologia Ukrainica | Ukrainian Theriological Society | Biannually | – | 1998 | Yes | No | 2617-1120 | 2616-7379 | Proceedings of the Theriological School |