A zoologist is a scientist who studies animals and their behavior. They observe and analyze the physical characteristics, habitats, and life cycles of animals in order to gain a better understanding of them. Zoologists often work in research laboratories, universities, and zoos. Naturalists are similar to zoologists in that they study the natural world, but they focus more on plants and the environment. Naturalists observe and document the interactions between plants, animals, and their environment in order to understand how they interact with each other.