The Department of Animal Biology from the University of Barcelona is divided into two Sections: the Anthropology Section and the Zoology Section. Both teaching and research conducted by each Section belong to different knowledge areas. The Zoology Section comprises three functional Units: Arthropoda, Chordata and Invertebrates.

The Department of Animal Biology is mostly involved in the "Llicenciatures" and Bachelor's Degrees in Biology, Environmental Sciences and Biomedical Sciences. However, it also participates in the "Llicenciatures" in History and Odontology as well as in the BSc's in Biotechnology and Biochemistry. The DBA is involved in the Masters in Human Biology, Biomedicine, Neurosciences, Primatology, Biodiversity, Sea Sciences and Acquaculture offered by the University of Barcelona.

Research in the Anthropology Section focuses in several aspects related to diversity in human populations, both past and present ones. Thus, research comprises demography and biodynamics of human populations, human population genetics and its applications in genetic epidemiology and forensic genetics and, finally, studies on evolution and ecology of primates and hominids.

The Zoology Section develops research on the study of the biology and systematics of a wide range of animal taxa, both involving basic biology and applied aspects. The main research lines are biology and ecology of protists, ecotoxicology, acquaculture and management of fishing resources, behaviour, animal ecology, animal conservation, fauna management and, finally, animal genetics, evolution and biodiversity.