Journal profile · Zoology
Zoo Biology
ISSN 0733-3188 · eISSN 1098-2361 · Wiley-Liss Inc. · UNITED STATES · Bimonthly · Founded 1982
Zoo Biology: CAS Zone 4 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.46; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,920; median 333 days to acceptance (89 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 83 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Zoo Biology is published by Wiley-Liss Inc. 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 Welfare Studies, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and Animal Behavior and Reproduction, together about 37.1% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Zoo Biology is concerned with reproduction, demographics, genetics, behavior, medicine, husbandry, nutrition, conservation and all empirical aspects of the exhibition and maintenance of wild animals in wildlife parks, zoos, and aquariums. In line with the growing role of modern zoos, Zoo Biology also considers in and ex situ conservation work and conservation psychology research conducted in or led by zoos, aquariums, or wildlife parks. This diverse journal offers a forum for effectively communicating scientific findings, original ideas, and critical thinking related to the role of wildlife collections and their unique contribution to conservation, approaches to support animal care. The journal prefers to publish hypothesis driven work that integrates fields to support these goals. How to cite: To make sure that references to this journal are correctly recorded and resolved (for example in CrossRef or ISI Web of Science), please use the following abbreviated title in any citations: "Zoo Biol." Punctuation may vary according to the style of the citing journal.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Zoology
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 32, United Kingdom 1, Australia 1, Belgium 1 (35 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Animal Behavior and Welfare StudiesVeterinary15%
- Wildlife Ecology and ConservationEnvironmental Science13.1%
- Animal Behavior and ReproductionAgricultural and Biological Sciences9%
- Primate Behavior and EcologyPsychology8.9%
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestockBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.5%
- Human-Animal Interaction StudiesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.2%
- Animal Nutrition and PhysiologyAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.1%
- Animal Vocal Communication and BehaviorBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.1%
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 | Veterinary 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 | Veterinary Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Zoology | Zone 3 |
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 | Veterinary Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Zoology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Web of ScienceMEDLINEPubMedPsycINFOCASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: ProQuest, AGRICOLA
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
- 1.46LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.5Publisher website ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 2.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore (publisher) 2025
- 2.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.39LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.83LetPub ·
- h-index
- 47LetPub ·
- h-index
- 98OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,328OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 0.97OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 13.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 49.2%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 68LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 2Publisher website ·
- Articles per year (publisher) 2025
- 71Publisher website ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 226,928Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,140 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 69 | 46 | 6 |
| 2025 | 83 | 42 | 72 |
| 2024 | 78 | 52 | 144 |
| 2023 | 70 | 42 | 310 |
| 2022 | 88 | 32 | 529 |
| 2021 | 86 | 21 | 522 |
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
333 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 264 days – 390 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 13 days (89 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 345 days
- Sample
- 89 articles with submission and acceptance dates (162 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 ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher)
- 48%Publisher website ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher) 2025
- 48%Publisher website ·
- Submission to first decision
- 126 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to first decision 2025
- 126 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance 2025
- 308 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication 2025
- 13 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single-anonymous peer reviewPublisher website · model-extracted
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 3,920 / EUR 3,240 / GBP 2,620 | — | — |
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 prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 5,000 words
- Reference style
- APA
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted8, with length limits
- book reviewo Book ReviewLength not stated
- brief reportdescribes a case study when submitting. Brief Report (1500 words): short, focused reports Husbandry Report and Technical Papmain text ≤ 1,500 words
- commentaryBy author query only (email zoobiology@sfzoo.org) o CommentaryLength not stated
- husbandry report and technical papersHusbandry Report and Technical Papers (1500-2000 words): an article or case study on demonstration of technique, care, or welfare of animals in captivityLength not stated
- research articlestract, References, Tables and Figures. Research Article (5000 words): illustrates theoretic/empirical questions with quantitatimain text ≤ 5,000 words
- research reviewResearch Review (5000 words): illustrates current literature on a zoo related topicLength not stated
- research review with case studiesResearch Review with Case Studies (5000 words): Research Reviews with Case Studies are aimed to allow authors to thoroughly review a topic and suggest new direc…Length not stated
- reviewative results, and conclusions Research Review (5000 words): illustrates current literature on a zoo related topic Resmain text ≤ 5,000 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Plagiarism, Self-archiving
- AI use Disclosing the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
If you or your co-authors have used Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) tools such as ChatGPT and others based on large language models (LLMs) to develop any portion of a manuscript, their use must be described transparently and in detail in the Methods section.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship
On initial submission, the submitting author will be prompted to provide the email address and country for all contributing authors.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors will be asked to provide a conflict of interest statement during the submission process. For details on what to include in this section, see the section ‘Conflict of Interest’ in the Editorial Policies and Ethical Considerations section below. Submitting authors should ensure they liaise with all co-authors to confirm agreement with the final statement.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data Sharing and Data Accessibility
Please review Wiley’s policy here. This journal encourages data sharing.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Publication Ethics
COPE member; uses iThenticate CrossCheck for similarity detection. Model summary
This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Note this journal uses iThenticate’s CrossCheck software to detect instances of overlapping and similar text in submitted manuscripts. Read Wiley'sTop 10 Publishing Ethics Tips for Authors here. Wiley’s Publication Ethics Guidelines can be found here.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright For authors signing the copyright transfer agreement
If the Open Access option is not selected the corresponding author will be presented with the copyright transfer agreement (CTA) to sign. The terms and conditions of the CTA can be previewed in the samples associated with the Copyright FAQs.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access For authors choosing Open Access
If the Open Access option is selected the corresponding author will have a choice of the following Creative Commons License Open Access Agreements (OAA):
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer Review and Acceptance
Avoids supplemental materials and appendices; fold into article body. Model summary
The acceptance criteria for all papers are the quality and originality of the research and its significance to journal readership. Papers will only be sent to review if the Editor-in-Chief determines that the paper meets the appropriate quality and relevance requirements.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Plagiarism
Uses iThenticate CrossCheck for similarity detection. Model summary
Note this journal uses iThenticate’s CrossCheck software to detect instances of overlapping and similar text in submitted manuscripts.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Self-archiving Self-Archiving Definitions and Policies
Note that the journal’s standard copyright agreement allows for self-archiving of different versions of the article under specific conditions. Please click here for more detailed information about self-archiving definitions and policies.
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
- Wiley-Liss Inc.
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1982
- ISSN
- 0733-3188
- Electronic ISSN
- 1098-2361
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 45, Issue 4 (August 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Zoo Biology
What CAS zone is Zoo Biology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Zoo Biology is in Zone 4 of Biology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Veterinary 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 Zoo Biology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.46; CiteScore 2.8, h-index 98.
How long does peer review take at Zoo Biology?
Based on the dates recorded on 89 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 333 days (interquartile range 264–390 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”; the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 48% (2025). 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 Zoo Biology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Manuscript length: ≤ 5,000 words; Reference style: APA; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Graphical abstract: 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 Zoo Biology based?
Of the 35 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (32), United Kingdom (1) and Australia (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Zoo Biology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Zoo Biology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Zoo Biology open access, and what is the APC?
Zoo Biology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,920.
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 2026-08-24). Last updated: .