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Zoology

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Zoology was the field of study of animals and monsters.[1]

Knowledge[]

A zoology sage could generally identify common species within the class of animals they specialized in, as well as predict the behavior and capabilities of said creatures.[1]

Sub-Fields[]

Sages in this field often specialized in certain general classes of animals. These included amorphous monsters (such as slimes and jellies), amphibians, aquatic monsters, birds, fish, hybrid monsters (such as griffons or perytons), mundane insects, insectoid monsters, mundane mammals, mammalian monsters, mundane reptiles, and reptilian monsters.[1]

  • Entomology: the study of arachnids and insects, both mundane and giant.[2]
  • Herpetology: the study of amphibians and/or reptiles.[2]
  • Ichthyology: the study of fish and fish-like creatures.[3][4]
  • Ornithology: the study of birds and bird-like creatures.[3]
  • Some sages studied a class of monsters that was known as "aberrant zoology". These sages focused their efforts on capturing, documenting, and explaining aberrations.[5]

Education[]

Scrolls were often used by zoologists to collect, preserve, and communicate the knowledge they obtained to other zoologists and lay persons. This knowledge typically regarded the anatomy, diet, and behaviors of an animal.[2][3][6]

The value of these scrolls varied depending upon the animal discussed and a buyer's profession, though almost all types were of interest to sages.[2][3][6] They were often of interest to professions that handled animals, such as farmers, furriers, hunters, ranchers, shepherds, and swineherds.[6] Entomology scrolls were often valued by beekeepers, druids, and farmers. Herpetology scrolls were often valued by hunters and druids that dwelled in marshes, jungles, or swamps.[2] Ornithological scrolls were often valued by artists, bird-watchers, falconers, fletchers, and fowlers. And finally, ichthyological scrolls were often valued by fishermen as well as druids that dwelled along the coast or shore.[3]

Besides scrolls, some wrote books regarding their findings, such as Volo's Guide to Monsters,[7][8] Tym's Monstrous Book,[9] or the more narrowly focused Entomology Encyclopedia.[10]

Institutions[]

In the city of Huzuz, the university Al-Bidir Sallah's "College of the Sciences" offered courses in zoology.[11]

The third through fifth floors of the Vault of the Sages contained study rooms for topics of learning, including zoology.[12]

In any decent-sized city, a sage specialized in zoology could be found with a 20% chance, or 30% in Sembia, around 1358 DR.[13]

Notable Zoologists[]

  • An unknown ichthyologer was credited with the discovery of the coelacanth, having found it at a bustling fish market in the Frozenfar region.[4]
  • Ainsbrith[14]
  • Bremaerel[14]
  • Elmdaerle[15][16]
  • Raash[13]
  • Ramazith Flamesinger was a sage who specialized in the study of intelligent marine life.[17]
  • Tym, an evoker who authored Tym's Monstrous Book. He devoted much of his life to documenting the strengths, weaknesses, and ecology of various monsters found in Faerûn, being especially fascinated by those of a magical nature.[9]

Appendix[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Richard Baker (1996). Player's Option: Spells & Magic. (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 0-7869-0394-5.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Randy Maxwell (March 1993). “Unearthed Mundana”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #191 (TSR, Inc.), p. 98.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Randy Maxwell (March 1993). “Unearthed Mundana”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #191 (TSR, Inc.), p. 99.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cryptic Studios (August 2016). Neverwinter: Storm King's Thunder. Perfect World Entertainment.
  5. ↑ Jeremy Crawford (November 17, 2020). Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 86. ISBN 978-0786967025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Randy Maxwell (March 1993). “Unearthed Mundana”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #191 (TSR, Inc.), p. 100.
  7. ↑ Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
  8. ↑ Mike Mearls, et al. (November 2016). Volo's Guide to Monsters. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 978-0786966011.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (November 1995). Pages from the Mages. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 117. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
  10. ↑ David W. Baker (August 1994). Dark Harvest. Living City (RPGA), p. 23.
  11. ↑ Tim Beach, Tom Prusa and Steve Kurtz (1993). “Gem of Zakhara”. City of Delights (TSR, Inc), pp. 28–29. ISBN 1-56076-589-5.
  12. ↑ Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 32. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  15. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  16. ↑ Eric Haddock (1994). Cormyr. (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN 1-56076-818-5.
  17. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 76. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
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