Mammalogist
OFO No:
What is a Mammalogist?
A Mammologist is a kind of zoologist who specialises in the study of mammals – both living and extinct.
What is a mammal?
A mammal is a warm-blooded vertebrate (animal with a spine). There are approximately 4 200 species of mammals on our planet.
A Mammalogist may study a variety or groups of species or they may just focus on one.
Mammology can be divided into 7 major areas:
- Habitat
- Food
- Predators
- Reproduction
- Social structures
- Classifications
- Evolution
What does a Mammalogist do?
- they study the physical properties (anatomy) of mammals by conducting dissections
- the research its behaviour and role in ecosystems
- they study the evolution of the species
- they study habitats and social interactions of these mammals
- they share their finding with other scientists
- they publish finding in scientific journals
Are you . . . ?
- passionate about animals?
- scientifically astute?
- inquisitive?
- willing to work on your own?
- a person who loves hours and hours of research?
- patient?
- empathic and caring?
- responsible?
- dedicated?
How do I become a Mammalogist?
Most Mammalogists start their career doing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) at one of our local universities.
Once you have your BSc it is recommended you do an Honours and PhD degrees in, for instance:
- Zoology
- Mammalogy
- Genetics
- Marine Biology etc
It will depend on you and what you want to study. Check your local university for their choices.
TRAINING:
- CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
- Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
- To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education.
- CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions.
OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Herpetologist … or … Game Ranger
Is becoming a Mammalogist the right career choice for me?
