General Information
The Journal of Herpetology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles four times a year. We publish work from around the world. Although all submissions must be in American English, we welcome an additional, second-language abstract.
The Journal of Herpetology normally publishes manuscripts ≤ 6000 words, including title, abstract, and the body of manuscript). Word count does NOT include the literature cited section, appendices, tables, figures, and legends. Word limit extensions beyond 6000 words are possible but an author should consult one of the co-editors prior to submission.
Suitable Topics
The Journal of Herpetology publishes reviews and original hypothesis-driven research covering all aspects of biology of amphibians and reptiles. We especially encourage research that addresses expansive questions in biology using amphibians and reptiles as model systems. We encourage authors to submit manuscripts that are data-driven and rigorous tests of hypotheses or provide thorough descriptions of novel taxa (living or fossil). Topics may address theoretical issues in a thoughtful, quantitative way. Such papers must have a central focus that propose a new argument for understanding a concept or a new approach for answering a question or solving a problem.
Papers on captive breeding, simple descriptions of new techniques or sampling methods, anecdotal or isolated natural history observations, geographic range extensions, and essays should be submitted to our sister journal, Herpetological Review. If you are not sure as to the suitability of a topic for submission to the journal, contact the editors before submitting your work.
Suitable topics for submission include:
1) Behavior, both field-based behavioral ecology and laboratory studies.
2) Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management, submissions should address evaluation of conservation and management measures related to herpetofauna and may focus on policy.
3) Ecology, from population to ecosystem levels.
4) Genetics and Evolution, including population and landscape genetics, and genomics.
5) Development and Morphology, including evolutionary developmental biology and functional morphology.
6) Parasitology and Diseases, submissions can address experimental comparisons, veterinary case studies, emerging threats, emerging therapies, or geographic changes; novel parasite documentation should be sent as a Natural History Note to Herpetological Review.
7) Physiology, both field-based physiological ecology and laboratory studies.
8) Systematics, Taxonomy, and Biogeography, including molecular and morphological approaches.
9) Techniques, including hypothesis/question-driven technically oriented submissions with quantitative components, and that contain significant biological content, show innovation and improvements of sampling, improved statistical methods, and that ultimately make significant advances in a field of herpetology; innovations in museum techniques, especially museomics, would also be suitable. Such submissions are topical and are published under a discipline heading rather than under a “Techniques” heading.
10) Review papers, contributions that evaluate and summarize the state of an area of study, and that specify future directions of research. Such review papers will either be solicited by the editorial team at the Journal of Herpetology or submitted independently by an author(s).
See examples:
Goris, Richard C. 2011. “Infrared Organs of Snakes: An Integral Part of Vision.” Journal of Herpetology 45 (1): 2–14. https://doi.org/10.1670/10-238.1
Greene, Harry W., and Kevin D. Wiseman. 2023. “Heavy, bulky, or both: what does “large prey” mean to snakes?”. Journal of Herpetology 57 (3): 340–366. https://doi.org/10.1670/22-068
Helpful Links for Authors:
View the Instructions to Authors – updated September 2025
Submit a manuscript on the Scholastica site
Authors of manuscripts already in process prior to 4 December 2023 click here to reach PeerTrack
Links to Journal of Herpetology Content:
All articles are available online to SSAR members. Click here to access content from Journal of Herpetology on BioONE
A bound print copy of the annual 4-issue volume of the Journal of Herpetology may be purchased through the SSAR Bookstore, typically available September-October.