Journal profile · Zoology
Journal of Ethology
ISSN 0289-0771 · eISSN 1439-5444 · Springer Japan · JAPAN · Tri-annual · Founded 1983
Journal of Ethology: CAS Zone 4 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.47; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,690; median 132 days to acceptance (64 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 48 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Ethology is published by Springer Japan and is in Zone 4 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Animal Behavior and Reproduction, Plant and animal studies and Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior, together about 43.3% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Ethology features reviews and original papers relating to all aspects of animal behavior, including traditional ethology. Papers on field, laboratory, or theoretical studies are welcomed. In contrast to many other ethological journals that prefer studies testing explicit hypotheses, the Journal of Ethology is interested both in observational studies and in experimental studies. However, the authors of observational studies are always requested to provide background information about behaviors in their study and an appropriate context to establish the scientific importance of their observation, which in turn produces fascinating hypotheses to explain the behaviors.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Zoology
Editor-in-chief Takeshi TakegakiPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named Japan 36, United States 4, United Kingdom 4, Sweden 3, South Korea 1 (54 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Animal Behavior and ReproductionAgricultural and Biological Sciences20.3%
- Plant and animal studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences13.4%
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and BehaviorBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology9.7%
- Wildlife Ecology and ConservationEnvironmental Science5.2%
- Animal Vocal Communication and BehaviorBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.9%
- Avian ecology and behaviorEnvironmental Science4.2%
- Amphibian and Reptile BiologyEnvironmental Science4%
- Fish Ecology and Management StudiesEnvironmental Science3.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Zoology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Zoology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Zoology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Current ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 1.47LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.5Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.1Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.32LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.74LetPub ·
- h-index
- 30LetPub ·
- h-index
- 54OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 770OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.21OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 13.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 34.88%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 41LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 184,700Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,472 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 48 | 23 | 32 |
| 2024 | 29 | 16 | 84 |
| 2023 | 28 | 11 | 92 |
| 2022 | 37 | 15 | 134 |
| 2021 | 55 | 24 | 227 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
132 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 86 days – 210 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 18 days (64 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 153 days
- Sample
- 64 articles with submission and acceptance dates (76 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,690 / EUR 2,790 / GBP 2,390 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 200 words
- Keywords
- 5–8
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 10,000 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted5
- articlesThe Journal of Ethology publishes reviews and four types of original papers (Articles, Video Articles, Video Insights, and Short Communications).Length not stated
- reviewsThe Journal of Ethology publishes reviews and four types of original papers (Articles, Video Articles, Video Insights, and Short Communications).Length not stated
- short communicationsThe Journal of Ethology publishes reviews and four types of original papers (Articles, Video Articles, Video Insights, and Short Communications).Length not stated
- video articlesThe Journal of Ethology publishes reviews and four types of original papers (Articles, Video Articles, Video Insights, and Short Communications).Length not stated
- video insightsThe Journal of Ethology publishes reviews and four types of original papers (Articles, Video Articles, Video Insights, and Short Communications).Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAuthorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Plagiarism
- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability
Data availability statement required; data must be made available to readers. Model summary
The journal encourages authors to provide a statement of Data availability in their article. Data availability statements should include information on where data supporting the results reported in the article can be found, including, where applicable, hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Data availability statements can also indicate whether data are av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Ethology, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Revised manuscripts due within three months of receipt. Model summary
Manuscripts that are returned to the authors for revision should be submitted within three months of receipt; otherwise the revised manuscript may be regarded as a new submission.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Plagiarism
Original work only; no previously published submissions. Model summary
The Journal of Ethology will not consider submissions that have been published elsewhere.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Japan
- Country or region
- JAPAN
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Tri-annual
- Founded
- 1983
- ISSN
- 0289-0771
- Electronic ISSN
- 1439-5444
- Society / sponsor
- Japan Ethological Society
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 44, Issue 3 (September 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Ethology
What CAS zone is Journal of Ethology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Ethology is in Zone 4 of Biology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Behavioral Sciences / Zoology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Ethology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.47; CiteScore 2, h-index 54.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Ethology?
Based on the dates recorded on 64 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 132 days (interquartile range 86–210 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Journal of Ethology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 200 words; Keywords: 5–8; Manuscript length: ≤ 10,000 words; Reference style: Author–date; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Ethology based?
Of the 54 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Japan (36), United States (4) and United Kingdom (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Ethology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Ethology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Ethology open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Ethology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,690.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .