Conducts fundamental research in the field of systematics, zoogeography and ecology of animals in the following main areas in accordance with the Charter: systematics, faunistics, biogeography, evolutionary morphology and phylogeny of animals; biological basis of parasitism; patterns of biological circulation of substances in water bodies; structure, functioning and productivity of aquatic ecosystems; scientific basis of biomethod, biotechnology; ecology and behavior of animals; propaganda of zoological knowledge and environmental protection; rational use of wildlife and genetic resources. 

    The largest in Russia and one of the largest in the world collection fund of the Zoological Institute contains more than 60 million storage units, about 260 thousand species of animals, which is approximately 1/4 of the known world fauna. The Zoological Institute is home to the largest zoological library in Russia (a department of the Library of the Academy of Sciences), containing about 600 thousand storage units.