Journal decision profile

Zoological Letters

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Zoological Letters' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4, ranking Q2 in Genetics and 1 other subfield. Two-year citation average from OpenAlex data, updated August 2026.

BioMed CentralUnited KingdompISSN 2056-306XeISSN 2056-306X
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Bookmark this page — track observed submission-to-acceptance timing, FWCI and field-normalized citation data for this journal in one view.

Journal Metrics Score
i
Journal Metrics ScoreThe raw score is citations received in the latest complete year by works from the two previous years, divided by the number of those works. It is calculated from OpenAlex open data (CC0) and is not a percentage grade.
2026
2.4

Journal Metrics Score 2026 · 2021–2024 window citedness 2.97.

Review & acceptance time
i
Review & acceptance timeCalendar days between the received and accepted dates reported in recent PubMed records. This interval includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
PUBMED
111 daysmedian

Middle 50%: 79–154 days

31 of 31 PubMed-indexed articles · 100% coverage · 2024–2025

Zoological Letters accepts papers a median of 111 days after submission, including peer review and revisions. That is faster than 51% of comparable journals with PubMed timing data.

Indicative APC
i
Indicative APCThis journal-level estimate comes from the OpenAlex source record. It is not a verified quote and may exclude taxes, waivers, society discounts, or article-type charges. Check the journal's official website before deciding.
OPENALEX · VERIFY
$2,090

Journal-level estimate only. Verify current charges, taxes, waivers, discounts, and article-type fees with the journal.

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Does your manuscript fit Zoological Letters?

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At a glance

Journal decision profile

Each spoke is a 0–100 percentile within a comparable journal cohort—not a percentage grade or a single black-box rating.

Relative profile

Metrics ScoreThe raw 2026 Journal Metrics Score is the recent two-year citation average shown above. The radar converts it to a 0–100 cohort percentile: farther out means a higher score than more comparable journals. It is not a percentage grade.iSource outputThe raw rank compares lifetime output inside the journal’s leading-topic source set. The radar then compares that rank position across Decision Profile journals in the same primary OpenAlex field; when that field has too few profiles, it uses the broader profile set. Farther out means relatively more output, not better research quality.iTop 10% shareThe share of recent papers in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield. The radar converts that share to a 0–100 cohort percentile; it does not predict how a new paper will perform.iMedian FWCICitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected citation level for comparable papers; the radar shows its 0–100 cohort percentile.iSubmission-to-acceptanceCalendar days from the received date to the accepted date in recent PubMed records. This includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not the time to first decision and not pure peer-review time. The radar uses a 0–100 cohort percentile with shorter observed timing plotted farther out; it does not measure review quality.iOutput volumeAverage works published per year in the recent analysis window, converted to a 0–100 cohort percentile. Farther out means the journal publishes more papers; it does not mean those papers are better.i
Cost is intentionally excluded. Missing APC data is never converted to a zero-dollar fee or a fabricated cost score.

Raw values behind the shape

Always visible
Metrics Score
i
Metrics ScoreThe 2026 raw Journal Metrics Score shown above. The bar is its 0–100 percentile within the radar's comparable journal cohort; it is not a percentage score.
2.42026 · OPENALEX
Source output rank
i
Source output rankThis lifetime journal-wide output rank compares works published by the OpenAlex source with sources associated with the journal’s leading topic. More output does not mean higher quality.
#790 / 1,637LIFETIME OUTPUT
Highly cited papers
i
Highly cited papersShare of recent works in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield.
15.8%FIELD-NORMALIZED TOP 10%
Field-normalized impact
i
Field-normalized impactCitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected level for comparable work.
0.76MEDIAN FWCI
Submission-to-acceptance
i
Submission-to-acceptanceReceived-to-accepted calendar days from qualified PubMed records. It includes editorial handling and author revisions; it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
111 daysIQR 79–154 DAYS
Recent output
i
Recent outputAverage works published per year across the complete analysis window. This is a volume measure, not a quality score.
19 / yr2021–2024 AVG
Field-normalized top 10% share15.8%

12 of 76 works · same type, year & subfield

Field-normalized top 1% share0%

0 works · same type, year & subfield

Median FWCI0.76×

Below field-year expectation

Source output rank#790

of 1,637 topic-associated OpenAlex sources by lifetime output

What does Median FWCI mean?

FWCI compares papers with the same publication year, type, and field. 1.0 is the world average; above 1.0 is above expectation. This journal's median is 0.76, so its typical recent paper runs about 24% below its field benchmark.

What does Top 10% Share mean?

15.8% of recent papers rank in the global top 10% after field normalization. This is easier to compare across specialties than raw citation totals.

Publishing pattern

Publication volume and article mix

Volume is separated from citation accumulation so newer papers are not presented as weaker simply because they are newer.

Works published by year

OpenAlex source records · 2016–2025

252016
222017
322018
372019
162020
162021
142022
232023
232024
102025

Recent work-type mix

76 OpenAlex works · 2021–2024

Article96.1%
Erratum3.9%
OpenAlex article is broader than “original research.” PubMed Publication Types can add case-report and clinical-study detail.
Fit signals

Topics and research coverage

OpenAlex topics show the research communities this journal serves.

Leading OpenAlex topics

2021–2024 works
Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies8
Amphibian and Reptile Biology6
Marine Biology and Ecology Research6
Tardigrade Biology and Ecology5
Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation4
Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species4
Animal Behavior and Reproduction3
Circadian rhythm and melatonin2
Genetic diversity and population structure2
Hemiptera Insect Studies2
Methodology: OpenAlex snapshot 2026-10-20. FWCI, percentile badges, topics, and type mix use 76 works published 2021–2024. Radar normalization is versioned in the cached profile, and no cost score is assigned without reliable APC data.

Subject Category Quartiles

Quartiles computed within each OpenAlex subfield
CategoryQuartile
Molecular BiologyQ3
Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceQ3
GeneticsQ2
Global and Planetary ChangeQ2

Is Zoological Letters a good journal?

A solid Q2 journal by citation data

By citation data, Zoological Letters is a solid journal: it is Q2 in Genetics and 1 other subfield, the second quarter of journals by score, and ranks #479 of 1,171 Neuroscience journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 41%). Zoological Letters' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4. Recent papers took a median of 111 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,090 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Molecular Biology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, and Genetics, so check that your topic fits its scope.

Best quartile
Q2
Genetics
Rank in Neuroscience
#479 of 1,171
Top 41%
2026 Journal Metrics Score
2.4
Acceptance rate
Not published
By the journal or publisher
Submission to acceptance
111 days
Median, PubMed records
Open access fee (APC)
$2,090
OpenAlex, verify with the journal
Papers published in 2025
10
OpenAlex works

Check before you submit

  • Confirm the current article processing charge, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website; the OpenAlex figure is indicative.
  • Confirm the journal is indexed where your institution or funder requires (for example Scopus or PubMed) before you submit.

Verdict from citation data only: quartile and field rank by Journal Metrics Score (OpenAlex), publisher-reported acceptance rates, and PubMed submission and acceptance dates. See how we rank journals and how to verify indexing.

Q2
Subfield Quartile
B3
CAS Block

Ranking and source check

#479
of 1,171 Neuroscience field journals
#63
among Q2 Neuroscience journals

Confirm the exact title and ISSNs against the publisher homepage before a high-stakes submission decision.

Journal Details

OpenAlex Works
265
H-Index
38
Fully Open Access
Yes
Recent OA Works
264
Subject Areas
Molecular BiologyCellular and Molecular NeuroscienceGeneticsGlobal and Planetary Change

Source: the current OpenAlex source record. OpenAlex works can include multiple work types. Fully Open Access is a source-level flag. Recent OA Works is summed from OpenAlex's counts_by_year series (up to the latest ten years); it is not a lifetime OA percentage. Any APC shown here is an indicative OpenAlex value—verify current charges on the journal's official website.

How to submit to Zoological Letters

  1. 1

    Check the scope

    OpenAlex classifies Zoological Letters' papers in subfields including Molecular Biology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, and Genetics. Read the aims and scope page and a few recent papers close to your topic before you prepare the manuscript.

  2. 2

    Follow the author guidelines

    Article types, word and figure limits, reference style, and the required statements (data availability, ethics, conflicts of interest, author contributions) are set by the journal. Prepare the cover letter and files to match them.

    Zoological Letters homepage ↗
  3. 3

    Submit online

    Use the submit link in Zoological Letters' author guidelines; BioMed Central runs the submission site. Every author usually needs an ORCID iD, and the corresponding author needs an account on the submission site.

  4. 4

    Plan for costs

    OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,090 USD for this open-access journal. Check the current fee, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website.

  5. 5

    Know what to expect

    Recent accepted papers took a median of 111 days from submission to acceptance, including revisions (PubMed dates). Zoological Letters does not publish an acceptance rate.

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Common questions about Zoological Letters

Is Zoological Letters a good journal?

By citation data, Zoological Letters is a solid journal: it is Q2 in Genetics and 1 other subfield, the second quarter of journals by score, and ranks #479 of 1,171 Neuroscience journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 41%). Zoological Letters' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4. Recent papers took a median of 111 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,090 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Molecular Biology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, and Genetics, so check that your topic fits its scope.

What is Zoological Letters' Journal Metrics Score in 2026?

Zoological Letters' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4, from the August 2026 data release. The score is a two-year citation average computed from OpenAlex (CC0) data: citations received in the most recent complete year to works published in the two prior years, divided by the number of those works.

What is the acceptance rate of Zoological Letters?

We have not found an official acceptance rate published by Zoological Letters or its publisher, and Journal Metrics does not estimate one because submission counts are not public. What recent PubMed records do show is speed: accepted papers took a median of 111 days from submission to acceptance. To judge selectivity, compare Zoological Letters' quartile and score with similar journals, or ask the editorial office.

What quartile is Zoological Letters in?

Zoological Letters' best quartile is Q2. By OpenAlex subfield: Q3 in Molecular Biology; Q3 in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience; Q2 in Genetics; Q2 in Global and Planetary Change. Quartiles rank journals by Journal Metrics Score within each subfield.

Is the Journal Metrics Score the same as other journal citation metrics?

No. Journal Metrics computes the score independently from OpenAlex open data. Other providers use different citation databases, document types, and counting rules, so their published figures for Zoological Letters will not match this score exactly. Compare journals using one source at a time.

How long does Zoological Letters take to accept a paper?

Zoological Letters accepts papers a median of 111 days after submission across 31 recent PubMed records with both dates; the middle half took 79–154 days. This includes peer review, editorial handling, and revisions.

How long is the peer review time at Zoological Letters?

PubMed records when a manuscript was received and accepted, not the individual review stages, so peer review time on its own is not available. The full time from submission to acceptance at Zoological Letters, which includes peer review and revisions, has a median of 111 days. For the time to a first decision, check the journal's own website.

Is Zoological Letters faster than similar journals?

Zoological Letters' median of 111 days from submission to acceptance is faster than 51% of comparable journals with PubMed timing data.

How much does it cost to publish in Zoological Letters?

OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,090 USD for Zoological Letters. This journal-level estimate may exclude taxes, waivers, discounts, or article-type fees, so confirm the current charge on the journal's website.

Which journals are alternatives to Zoological Letters?

Comparable journals include Zoological Science, Zoologischer Anzeiger, Acta Zoologica, and Organisms Diversity & Evolution. Compare their scores, acceptance times, and costs in the recommended alternatives on this page before choosing where to submit.

How do I submit a paper to Zoological Letters?

Submit online through the link in Zoological Letters' author guidelines on the journal homepage. Before submitting, check the scope, follow the author guidelines for article type, length, and required statements, and prepare a cover letter. Accepted papers took a median of 111 days from submission to acceptance in recent PubMed records.

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