Zoologlyphics: A Novel Script Inspired by Animal Forms and Structures

Abstract

Zoologlyphics is a newly developed writing system whose letterforms are derived from the shapes and structures studied in animal science. The script contains 26 characters, called “Zoophalets” (zoology alphabets) that correspond to the English A‑to‑Z set. Each character is modeled on distinctive morphological, anatomical, or osteological features drawn from both invertebrate and vertebrate phyla. The glyphs were intentionally designed to be easy to write and to serve as visual mnemonics, helping students recall key zoological concepts. The primary goal of Zoologlyphics is to make learning zoology more intuitive and engaging. A secondary benefit is its potential use as a covert communication system, given that the script is unfamiliar to the general public. Moreover, research indicates that mastering new writing systems can stimulate cognitive processes and influence neural networks involved in reading and memory. When implemented as a digital font, the system is called “Penguinka.” It can be installed on any computer via the online font‑creation platform Calligraphr (https://www.calligraphr.com). To our knowledge, this is the first customized script developed specifically for the field of zoology.