Journal of Mammalogy: Scope, Publishing, and Access

The Journal of Mammalogy is the flagship international scientific publication of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). Founded in 1919 and published bimonthly with Oxford University Press, it serves as a primary venue for empirical and theoretical research across mammalian biology, evolutionary ecology, wildlife conservation, and systematics. For researchers evaluating publication venues across organismal biology and zoology, the journal combines deep historical authority with modern scholarly publishing standards, including rigorous peer evaluation and hybrid open access options.

Understanding the journal’s governance, editorial policies, and submission workflows helps prospective authors navigate manuscript preparation and compliance requirements. This guide outlines the institutional structure of the Journal of Mammalogy, its indexing and archival access rules, the manuscript review process, and how it compares to peer publications.

What it is

The Journal of Mammalogy (Print ISSN: 0022-2372, Online ISSN: 1545-1542) is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to all aspects of the study of mammals worldwide. First published over a century ago, the periodical documents mammalian biodiversity, anatomical adaptation, physiological ecology, behavioral ecology, molecular phylogenetics, and wildlife population dynamics. Published in six issues per annual volume, each issue features original research articles, special feature symposia, and reviews.

The journal is indexed widely across major scholarly citation indexes and databases, including Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection (Science Citation Index Expanded / SCIE, Zoological Record, and BIOSIS Previews), Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Biological Abstracts, and AGRICOLA. This indexing ensures that contributions in mammalian systematics, natural history, and ecology maintain broad discoverability among life scientists and conservation bodies worldwide.

Who runs it and what it covers

The journal is owned and governed by the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM), the oldest professional society dedicated to the study of mammals. The society oversees editorial policies, appoints the Editor-in-Chief, and establishes ethical guidelines for research, including the ASM guidelines for the use of wild mammals in research. Digital publishing, global distribution, and platform hosting are managed by Oxford University Press (OUP) via Oxford Academic.

The editorial team includes an Editor-in-Chief alongside specialized Associate Editors and an international editorial board. Submissions span core thematic areas:

• Ecology and Behavior: Habitat selection, foraging ecology, predator-prey dynamics, social structures, and spatial ecology.
• Genetics and Evolution: Phylogeography, speciation, molecular systematics, and adaptive population genetics.
• Physiology and Morphology: Metabolic adaptations, thermoregulation, functional morphology, and reproductive biology.
• Conservation and Management: Population viability, human-wildlife coexistence, threatened species recovery, and invasive species impacts.
• Systematics and Taxonomy: Species descriptions, morphological diagnoses, and taxonomic revisions conforming to ICZN standards.

While the journal covers all wild mammalian taxa, routine veterinary clinical case reports, domestic livestock production studies, and non-mammalian research fall outside its scope. Submissions must present clear biological hypotheses rather than purely localized observations.

How to search or use it

Researchers interact with the Journal of Mammalogy as readers retrieving literature and as authors submitting manuscripts. Navigating these pathways involves official portals hosted by Oxford University Press and ScholarOne.

Accessing and Searching Published Content

The complete digital archive is hosted on the Oxford Academic platform. Searching and accessing content follows these steps:

1. Visit the Journal Portal: Navigate to the official journal homepage on Oxford Academic (academic.oup.com/jmammal).
2. Run Targeted Searches: Use the search tool to query across full text, abstracts, author names, or DOIs, filtering by date or article category.
3. Locate Institutional Sign-In: Select “Sign In” at the top right and choose “Sign in through your institution” (via Shibboleth or OpenAthens) to authenticate subscriber access.
4. Authenticate ASM Membership: Active ASM members receive unrestricted access to all current and archival issues by logging in through the ASM member portal.
5. Access Embargoed Content: For non-members, articles published from 1996 forward become freely readable following a 12-month rolling embargo. Articles published prior to 1996 are archived through institutional JSTOR collections or individual OUP pay-per-view access.

Author Manuscript Submission Workflow

Manuscript submissions are processed entirely through an online peer-review portal:

1. Enter the Submission Portal: Authors submit manuscripts through ScholarOne Manuscripts (mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jmamm), accessible via the “Submit” menu on the journal homepage.
2. Connect Author Profiles: Authors sign in using registered credentials or their ORCID iD to ensure verified attribution.
3. Designate Manuscript Category: Select the manuscript type (e.g., General Research Article, Feature Article, or Review) and supply subject keywords.
4. Upload Required Files: Upload the primary manuscript file in DOCX or PDF format alongside high-resolution figures and data tables prepared to OUP specifications.
5. Confirm Compliance and Data Archiving: Provide ethical oversight documentation (IACUC approval), identify funding sources, and include a transparent data availability statement referencing external data repositories.
6. Track Editorial Evaluation: Following administrative screening, the manuscript is assigned to an Associate Editor and sent for external peer review. Authors monitor review milestones directly in the ScholarOne dashboard.

Strengths and limits

Weighing the strengths and operational constraints of the Journal of Mammalogy helps authors determine alignment with their research goals.

Key Strengths

• Established Reputation: Continuous publication since 1919 establishes the journal as an authoritative record for organismal mammalogy and natural history.
• Expert Subject Editors: Editorial decisions are rendered by active field and laboratory mammalogists with direct domain expertise.
• Broad Indexing: Comprehensive inclusion in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Zoological Record ensures broad international discoverability.
• Society Support and Waivers: ASM offers page-charge discounts for members, student scholarships, and publication hardship grants.
• Read and Publish Agreements: Institutional agreements arranged through Oxford University Press allow eligible authors to publish open access without paying out-of-pocket charges.

Limits and Considerations

• Access Delays for Non-Subscribers: Under the standard subscription model, articles remain behind an access paywall for 12 months unless authors pay an article processing charge.
• Rigorous Review Timelines: Thorough peer review involving specialized taxonomic or field assessments typically averages 6 to 9 weeks for initial decisions.
• Specific Scope Boundaries: Strictly molecular or biochemical papers without organismal, ecological, or evolutionary context may be redirected to specialized cellular journals.

Alternatives

Researchers evaluating publication options in mammalogy and vertebrate zoology can compare several established alternatives:

Journal	Publisher & Society	Primary Scope Focus	Access Model	Submission System
Journal of Mammalogy	Oxford University Press / ASM	Comprehensive mammalian biology, ecology, evolution, behavior, and conservation	Hybrid (Subscription with 1-year embargo; Open Access option)	ScholarOne Manuscripts
Mammalian Biology	Springer Nature / DGS	Organismal biology of mammals, morphology, ethology, and taxonomy	Hybrid (Subscription; Open Choice option)	Editorial Manager
Mammal Review	Wiley / The Mammal Society	Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and broad syntheses of mammalian biology	Hybrid (Subscription; OnlineOpen option)	ScholarOne Manuscripts
Mammal Research	Springer Nature / MRI PAS	Population ecology, wildlife management, and environmental adaptations	Hybrid (Subscription; Open Access option)	Editorial Manager
Journal of Zoology	Wiley / ZSL	Comparative animal biology across all vertebrate and invertebrate taxa	Hybrid (Subscription; OnlineOpen option)	ScholarOne Manuscripts

FAQ

Who publishes the Journal of Mammalogy?

The Journal of Mammalogy is published by Oxford University Press (OUP) on behalf of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). The society sets editorial vision and selects the editorial board, while OUP oversees production, digital hosting, and subscription distribution.

Is the Journal of Mammalogy open access?

The journal operates under a hybrid publishing model. Authors can publish without mandatory page fees under a subscription model, or choose gold open access with an article processing charge (APC). Authors affiliated with institutions holding OUP Read and Publish agreements can often publish open access at no direct cost.

How does the rolling access embargo work?

ASM members have immediate online access to all historical and current articles. Non-members can access articles published from 1996 to the present for free on Oxford Academic after a 12-month rolling embargo. Articles published before 1996 are archived through JSTOR or available via OUP single-article purchase.

Which submission platform does the journal use?

Submissions are managed through ScholarOne Manuscripts at mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jmamm. Authors must provide an ORCID iD, ethics approval details for animal use, and complete manuscript files adhering to OUP style guidelines.

What major indexing databases include the Journal of Mammalogy?

The journal is indexed in Clarivate’s Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded, Zoological Record, BIOSIS Previews), Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Biological Abstracts, and AGRICOLA.

Sources

• American Society of Mammalogists. “Journal of Mammalogy Publication Charter and Access Policies.” Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.mammalsociety.org/publications/journal-mammalogy
• Oxford University Press. “Journal of Mammalogy: About, Scope, and Author Guidelines.” Oxford Academic. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://academic.oup.com/jmammal
• American Society of Mammalogists. “Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research and Education.” Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.mammalsociety.org/committees/animal-care-and-use
• Clarivate. “Web of Science Master Journal List: Journal of Mammalogy (ISSN 0022-2372).” Accessed November 10, 2026. https://mjl.clarivate.com
• ISSN International Centre. “ISSN Portal: Record for Journal of Mammalogy (0022-2372 / 1545-1542).” Accessed November 10, 2026. https://portal.issn.org