Species that are rare, endangered, or kept in zoos can set limits on what can be studied or how it can be studied. 

University of California, Davis

When selecting species to research and compare, scientists apply many criteria like: 
- outstanding features 
- convenience
- comparison
- preservation 
- economic importance
- treatment of disease 

Criteria for Selecting Species to Study

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Some species are "champions" at certain behaviors or abilities. These are usually linked to a specific neural characteristic or brain structure, which makes for a greater comparison. 

Outstanding Features

Some species are convenient to research if they are cheaper to study, ready to mate, and are not endangered, like rats. Some are convenient for methodological reasons, like having very simple nervous systems. 

Convenience

It is easier to compare two species that have a close relationship but behave differently. An example of this is studying a difference between birds and their behaviors. 

Comparison

Preservation

Studying certain animals that are important to the economy (ex: food species, crop-damaging species) can provide information that helps increase production. 

Economic Importance

Some species are susceptible to the same diseases, which makes for a good study. There are some animal models of different neurosciences diseases and disorders like mood disorders or epilepsy. 

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