oop - Scala, how do I replace static members? -

i wan't build class animal can find number of animals created. in scala there no option static variable, how can implement such functionality in scala (i looking non-specific solution)?

thanks!

for example in java:

public class amimal {     static int number_of_aminals = 0;       public animal() {         number_of_animals++;     }  } 

one option be:

import animal  class animal {   animal.increment() }  object animal {   private[this] var _count = 0    def increment(): unit = { _count += 1 }   def count: int = _count } 

though might want use atomicint.