Title: Was ist ein Tier? – Antworten aus der Tierwelt und Wissenschaft (What is an Animal? – Answers from the Animal World and Science)
**Vorwort:**
In our increasingly technologized world, we often forget that we do not live alone amongst humans. This article provides you with an insight into the fascinating and diverse animal world and the scientific perspective on the complex question: What is an Animal?
1. **What Does ‘Animal’ Really Mean?**
“A creature is any living organism that is not human or plant.”
(Source: Ernst Mayr) –
This is the general definition.
But what exactly does it mean in practice?
An animal is an organism that belongs to the kingdom Animalia, characterized by being multicellular, eukaryotic, and heterotrophic, meaning they obtain their nutrients from other organisms. They possess a nervous system and sense organs, allowing them to react to stimuli from their environment.
2. **Animals Live Like Us: Empathy, Social Structures, and Behaviors**
The animal kingdom is vast and diverse. From elephants exhibiting empathetic behavior and mourning their dead (Poole & Rudic, 1998) to dogs living in groups and displaying strong social bonds, animals provide us with countless examples of behaviors that mirror human emotions and social structures (Macdonald, 2001). Reptiles defend their territories with weapons such as horns or venom, while birds build intricate nests to raise their young.
3. **Functions of Animals in the Ecosystem**
Animals play essential roles in our ecosystems by contributing to the balance and functioning of nature. For example, honeybees (Apis mellifera) are crucial for human nutrition as they produce D-Glucose, a monosaccharide sugar essential for humans. Amebas (Amoeba proteus), on the other hand, build colonies and spread plant seeds, contributing to plant growth and reproduction.
4. **Human-Animal Relationships**
The relationship between humans and animals has evolved throughout history. Humans keep dogs as pets or work with chimpanzees to learn new languages (Pruetz & Greenfield, 2006). However, there are also harmful interactions such as hunting for food or sport. Understanding the complexities of these relationships can help us find ways to coexist harmoniously and respectfully with animals.
5. **Research and Discoveries in the Animal World**
Advancements in science have led to numerous discoveries about the animal world. For instance, the discovery of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a crucial role in social behavior, in sheepdogs (Carter & Oliveira, 2018) has changed our understanding of social bonding and communication. Experiments with elephants have revealed their remarkable intelligence (Plotnik et al., 2007), which not only fascinates us but also helps us learn more about their emotional lives.
6. **Future Developments in the Animal World**
As technology advances, we are finding new ways to interact with animals. Robotics and AI technology enable us to observe animal behavior from a unique perspective (Suzuki et al., 2013), raising ethical questions about human-animal interactions and the potential impact on wildlife conservation efforts.
**Thoughts:** How fascinating is the world of animals and their relationship with human society! Perhaps we should pay more attention to them and engage in a meaningful dialogue.
**FAQs:**
1. **How do Animals Differ from Plants?**
Animals are living organisms that can eat, drink, and move, whereas plants cannot move and can only absorb nutrients and release waste products.
2. **What is the Scientific Field Focused on Animals?**
Zoology or animal biology is the scientific discipline that deals with the characteristics, classification, biological study, and ecology of animals.