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ethologist

/i'θɑlədʒɪst/
IPA guide

Other forms: ethologists

A scientist who studies how animals behave is an ethologist. Are you fascinated by the waggle dance that bees do to show other bees where to find food? You might want to consider becoming an ethologist!

A zoologist who specializes in animal behaviors is an ethologist, and their field is called ethology. These scientists are interested in the characteristic behaviors of different animals, especially how they act in their natural environments. An ethologist might study courtship rituals among various species, compare the way birds express aggression, or investigate animals that exhibit altruistic behavior. The word ethologist derives from the Greek ethos, "character."

Definitions of ethologist
  1. noun
    a zoologist who studies the behavior of animals in their natural habitats
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    type of:
    animal scientist, zoologist
    a specialist in the branch of biology dealing with animals
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