Journal profile · PALEONTOLOGY
Palaeoworld
ISSN 1871-174X · eISSN 1875-5887 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS
Palaeoworld: CAS Zone 3 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.43; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,000; review about 132 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); acceptance rate 52% (journal website); 119 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Palaeoworld is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils, Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology and Geology and Paleoclimatology Research, together about 41.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Paleontology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Published on behalf of the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CASPalaeoworld is a peer-reviewed bimonthly journal dedicated to the study of past life and its environment. We encourage submission of original manuscripts on all aspects of palaeontology and stratigraphy, comparisons of regional and global data in time and space, and results generated by interdisciplinary investigations in related fields. Some issues will be devoted entirely to a special theme whereas others will be composed of contributed articles. Palaeoworld is dedicated to serving a broad spectrum of geoscientists and palaeobiologists as well as serving as a resource for students in fields as diverse as palaeobiology, evolutionary biology, taxonomy and phylogeny, geobiology, historical geology, and palaeoenvironment.Palaeoworld publishes original articles in the following areas:Phylogeny and taxonomic studies of all fossil groupsBiostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, chronostratigraphyPalaeoecology, palaeoenvironment and global changes throughout Earth historyTempo and mode of biological evolutionBiological events in Earth history (e.g., extinctions, radiations)Ecosystem evolutionGeobiology and molecular palaeobiologyPalaeontological and stratigraphic methodsInterdisciplinary studies focusing on fossils and strataPalaeoworld accepts the following categories of contributions:Original technical research papers and case studies Short communications Review articles (normally invited) Palaeoworld PerspectivesCollections of articles on a special theme Letter to the Editors Book reviewsThis journal welcomes contributions that support and advance the UN's sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 13 (Climate Action).
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): PALEONTOLOGY
Editor-in-chief David HarperPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 6 in mainland China (about 60%); most named Mainland China 6, United Kingdom 1, Italy 1, Australia 1, Slovenia 1 (10 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsEarth and Planetary Sciences22.1%
- Paleontology and Evolutionary BiologyEarth and Planetary Sciences10.5%
- Geology and Paleoclimatology ResearchEarth and Planetary Sciences9.2%
- Evolution and Paleontology StudiesEarth and Planetary Sciences7%
- Plant Diversity and EvolutionAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.3%
- Geological and Geochemical AnalysisEarth and Planetary Sciences4.4%
- Geological formations and processesEarth and Planetary Sciences4.1%
- Geological and Geophysical StudiesEarth and Planetary Sciences4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Paleontology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Paleontology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Paleontology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
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
- 1.43LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 2.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.46LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.78LetPub ·
- h-index
- 25LetPub ·
- h-index
- 46OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 391OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.06OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 13.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 12.03%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 118LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,195 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 108 | 19 | 25 |
| 2025 | 119 | 22 | 109 |
| 2024 | 88 | 23 | 199 |
| 2023 | 88 | 22 | 349 |
| 2022 | 82 | 11 | 478 |
| 2021 | 59 | 8 | 419 |
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
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
132 dayssubmission to acceptance
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Acceptance rate (publisher)
- 52%Publisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 132 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single 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 3,000 / EUR 2,810 / GBP 2,400 / JPY 372,090 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,260 | — | — |
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 prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Reference style
- Author–date
Article types accepted9
- book reviewContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
- case studyContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
- letterContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
- original technical research papers and case studiesPalaeoworld accepts the following categories of contributions: Original technical research papers and case studiesLength not stated
- perspectiveContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
- rapid communicationContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
- research paperContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
- reviewContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
- review articleContributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Palaeoworld Perspectives, Rapid Communication, Original technical resear…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Publishing ethics Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Open access license options Model summary
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
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
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1871-174X
- Electronic ISSN
- 1875-5887
- Society / sponsor
- Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Palaeoworld
What CAS zone is Palaeoworld in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Palaeoworld is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Paleontology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Palaeoworld?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.43; CiteScore 2.8, h-index 46.
How long does peer review take at Palaeoworld?
The publisher reports about 132 days (submission to acceptance); the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 52%. 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 Palaeoworld?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Reference style: Author–date. 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 Palaeoworld based?
Of the 10 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 6 (about 60%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (6), United Kingdom (1) and Italy (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Palaeoworld?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Palaeoworld is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Palaeoworld open access, and what is the APC?
Palaeoworld is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,000.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; 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: .