In zoology, what is the scientific name of the branch of biology that specifically studies fishes?

Introduction / Context:
Biology is divided into many specialised branches that focus on different groups of organisms or levels of organisation. Knowing the accurate names of these branches is a common requirement in general science and competitive examinations. Fishes are an important group of vertebrates that live in aquatic environments, and the scientific study of fishes has its own dedicated branch within zoology. This question checks whether you can recall and recognise the correct term used worldwide for the scientific study of fishes.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks for the scientific term for the study of fishes.
- All the options appear to be biological sounding words, but only one is standard and correct.
- General knowledge of biological terminology at school or early college level is assumed.
- The question is conceptual and purely definitional, with no numerical calculation involved.

Concept / Approach:
Within biology, zoology is the broader branch that studies animals in general. Within zoology, specific subbranches focus on particular groups, such as ornithology for birds, herpetology for reptiles and amphibians, and ichthyology for fishes. The word ichthyology comes from the Greek word ichthys, which means fish, combined with the suffix logy, which means study of. Therefore, the correct term for the study of fishes is ichthyology. The other terms in the options are either incorrect constructions or refer to broader or different concepts.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify what the question is asking: the specific term for the branch of biology that studies fishes. 2. Recall that animals as a whole are studied under zoology, but different animal groups have their own subfields. 3. Remember that ornithology is for birds, herpetology is for reptiles and amphibians, and ichthyology is for fishes. 4. Recognise that the root ichthy comes from Greek for fish, which directly links the term to fishes. 5. Conclude that Ichthyology is the correct and precise term for the study of fishes.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can quickly verify the answer by checking a standard biology textbook glossary or any reliable academic dictionary. Under entries for branches of biology, ichthyology is consistently defined as the study of fishes, including their classification, anatomy, behaviour, and ecology. If you search through exam preparation materials for competitive tests, you will also find the same definition. None of the other options are used by professional biologists or textbook authors to denote fish science, which confirms that ichthyology is the accepted term.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Amphiology: This is not a standard term in biology. Amphibians are studied under herpetology, not under something called amphiology.
Phylumology: The word phylum refers to a taxonomic rank, but phylumology is not a recognised scientific branch. It is a distractor word.
Zoology: Zoology is the broad study of animals in general. It is correct as a wider field but does not specifically refer only to fishes, so it is not the best answer for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to choose zoology because learners know that fishes are animals. However, the question asks for the branch that specifically studies fishes, not animals in general. Another pitfall is to be misled by unfamiliar or invented sounding options such as amphiology or phylumology, which may sound scientific but are not standard. To avoid such errors, focus on known Greek and Latin roots, such as ichthy for fish, and connect them logically to the organism group in the question.

Final Answer:
The scientific branch of biology that specifically studies fishes is called Ichthyology.