Guidelines for Submission to Chinese Journal of Zoology

Scope of the journal: please refer to the About Journal.

Preparation of the manuscript: Chinese Journal of Zoology has specific author guidelines for preparing your paper for submission. please refer to the Manuscript preparation.

Submission method: Manuscripts are accepted exclusively through online submission. Authors are requested to visit the journal’s official website, register as a user by following the instructions under “Author Login” on the left side of the homepage, and proceed with the submission accordingly.

Notes:

1. When registering as a user, please provide a detailed and accurate correspondence address, including province, city, street name, house/building number, and postal code.

2. When uploading a manuscript, all author details must be completed, including correct email addresses for each author. Upon receipt of the manuscript, the journal will notify all listed authors for confirmation. Subsequent communication will be conducted with the corresponding author only.

3. Recommending reviewers is optional. You may choose to recommend reviewers or click “delete” to skip this step.

4. The journal has specified formatting requirements. Please refer to the “Submission Guidelines” and “Manuscript Samples” provided on the website. Manuscripts that do not comply with the formatting requirements will not be submitted for review and will be returned to the author for revision. Authors are encouraged to review the “Submission Guidelines” and “Manuscript Samples” before submitting the manuscripts.

5. A signed Submission Declaration and Copyright Transfer Agreement are required at the time of submission. Please download the latest versions from the system, complete them with the manuscript title, and ensure they are signed by all authors. Upload the signed documents in PDF format as attachments. For funding information, clearly indicate the full project title and grant number—do not rely solely on the dropdown menu. The name of the funding agency (e.g., specific province, city, or university) must also be specified.

6. After the receipt of the manuscript by the editorial office, it will go through initial review, internal review by the editorial board, and external review by experts. Authors can track the progress of the manuscript, including review stages and return dates, from the “Manuscript Processing History”. Detailed reviewer comments will only be available after all reviews have been completed. The review process typically takes 2-3 months. If there are no special circumstances, please refrain from inquiring by phone during this period—the information displayed in “Manuscript Processing History” reflects real-time updates. Email is the preferred method for contacting the editorial office.

7. Once all peer reviews are complete, the editorial office will promptly notify the authors via email regarding revision or rejection decisions.

8. Upon receiving a revision request via email, authors should revise the manuscript based on the reviewers’ comments. A detailed point-by-point response to each comment is required. Please do not omit or bypass any comments. For each comment, list the original reviewer’s point followed by your specific response. Avoid vague replies such as “revised” without specifying the changes made.

9. After the editorial office issues the revision comments, authors must resubmit the revised manuscript within three months. If more time is needed, authors must contact the editorial office within the three-month window. Failure to do so may result in the manuscript being withdrawn or considered as a new submission.

10. Revised manuscripts will be sent to the editorial board for general review or undergo expert re-review. Manuscripts failing to meet revision requirements may be rejected or sent back for further revision.

11. Acceptance: Once the manuscript is accepted, authors can download the electronic acceptance letter directly from the system.

12. In Press: All accepted manuscripts will be marked as “Accepted” or “In Press.”

13. Proofreading: After typesetting, the editorial office will send an email notification to the author for proofreading. The journal currently conducts electronic proofreading in PDF format. Please download the proofreading instructions and sample files from the website. The corrected PDF should be uploaded to the system.

14. Payment of page charges: Upon receiving the email notification from the editorial office, authors may proceed with the payment of page charges via bank transfer. Please indicate “Chinese Journal of Zoology and the manuscript number” in the payment notes. After remittance, enter the official invoice title and tax identification number (18-digit unified social credit code) in the system. Also, provide a complete and accurate mailing address, postal code, and recipient information for sample copies. Once payment is received, the financial department of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences will issue electronic invoices in batches, which will be forwarded to authors by the editorial office via email. There is no need to inquire separately about invoice status.

15. During the revision process, any addition or removal of authors or changes in institutional affiliations must be justified and approved by all authors, or supported by official documentation from the first author’s affiliated institution. A signed statement by all authors must be uploaded to the system. No changes to authorship will be allowed after a manuscript has been accepted.