Biology Prefixes and Suffixes: Zoo- or Zo-

The prefix zoo- or zo- refers to animals and animal life. It is derived from the Greek zōion, meaning animal.

Words Beginning With (Zoo- or Zo-)

Zoobiotic (zoo-bio-tic): The term zoobiotic refers to an organism that is a parasite living on or in an animal.

Zooblast (zoo-blast): A zooblast is an animal cell.

Zoochemistry (zoo-chemistry): Zoochemistry is the branch of science that focuses on animal biochemistry.

Zoochory (zoo-chory): The spreading of plant products such as fruit, pollen, seeds, or spores by animals is called zoochory.

Zooculture (zoo-culture): Zooculture is the practice of raising and domesticating animals.

Zoodermic (zoo-derm-ic): Zoodermic refers to the skin of an animal, particularly as it pertains to a skin graft.

Zooflagellate (zoo-flagellate): This animal-like protozoan has a flagellum, feeds on organic matter, and is often a parasite of animals.

Zoogamete (zoo-gam-ete): A zoogamete is a gamete or sex cell that is motile, such as a sperm cell.

Zoogenesis (zoo-gen-esis): The origin and development of animals is known as zoogenesis.

Zoogeography (zoo-geography): Zoogeography is the study of the geographical distribution of animals around the world.

Zoograft (zoo-graft): A zoograft is the transplantation of animal tissue to a human.

Zookeeper (zoo-keeper): A zookeeper is an individual who takes care of animals in a zoo.

Zoolatry (zoo-latry): Zoolatry is an excessive devotion to animals, or the worship of animals.

Zoolith (zoo-lith): A petrified or fossilized animal is called a zoolith.

Zoology (zoo-logy): Zoology is the field of biology that focuses on the study of animals or the animal kingdom.

Zoometry (zoo-metry): Zoometry is the scientific study of the measurements and sizes of animals and animal parts.

Zoomorphism (zoo-morph-ism): Zoomorphism is the use of animal forms or symbols in art and literature to assign animal characteristics to humans or dieties.

Zoon (zoo-n): An animal that develops from a fertilized egg is called a zoon.

Zoonosis (zoon-osis): Zoonosis is a type of disease that can be spread from an animal to a human. Examples of zoonotic diseases include rabies, malaria, and Lyme disease.

Zooparasite (zoo-parasite): A parasite of an animal is a zooparasite. Common zooparasites include worms and protozoa.

Zoopathy (zoo-path-y): Zoopathy is the science of animal diseases.

Zoopery (zoo-pery): The act of performing experiments on animals is termed zoopery.

Zoophagy (zoo-phagy): Zoophagy is the feeding on or eating of an animal by another animal.

Zoophile (zoo-phile): This term refers to an individual who loves animals.

Zoophobia (zoo-phobia): The irrational fear of animals is called zoophobia.

Zoophyte (zoo-phyte): A zoophyte is an animal, such as a sea anemone, that resembles a plant.

Zooplankton (zoo-plankton): Zooplankton is a type of plankton composed of tiny animals, animal-like organisms, or microscopic protists such as dinoflagellates.

Zooplasty (zoo-plasty): The surgical transplantation of animal tissue to a human is called zooplasty.

Zoosphere (zoo-sphere): The zoosphere is the global community of animals.

Zoospore (zoo-spore):  Zoospores are asexual spores produced by some algae and fungi that are motile and move by cilia or flagella.

Zootaxy (zoo-taxy): Zootaxy is the science of animal classification.

Zootomy (zoo-tomy): The study of animal anatomy, typically through dissection, is known as zootomy.