Zoologische Mededelingen: A Legacy of Animal Systematics
For nearly a century, Zoologische Mededelingen served as a critical pillar for the documentation of animal life. As a peer-reviewed scientific journal, it focused specifically on animal systematics—the study of the diversification of living forms and the relationships among them through time.
Published by the National Museum of Natural History (Naturalis) in the Netherlands, the journal provided a formal venue for researchers to publish detailed papers and comprehensive monographs, ensuring that taxonomic discoveries were recorded with scientific rigor.
Key Facts
- Focus: Peer-reviewed research on animal systematics.
- Publisher: National Museum of Natural History (Naturalis), Netherlands.
- Lifespan: Published from 1915 until 2014.
- Access: Open access since 2006 under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
- Successor: Merged into the European Journal of Taxonomy.
Historical Evolution and Origins
The journal first appeared in 1915, serving as the official publication of the Rijks Museum van Natuurlijke Historie, which was the predecessor to the modern Naturalis museum.
Before the establishment of Zoologische Mededelingen, the museum disseminated its findings through other titles. These included the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle des Pays-Bas (Volumes I–XIV, 1862–1908) and Notes from the Leyden Museum (Volumes I-XXXVI, 1879–1914). These earlier publications primarily focused on the fauna of the Netherlands and the territories of the former Dutch colonies.
Indexing and Academic Reach
To ensure global visibility and academic validity, Zoologische Mededelingen was indexed in major scientific databases, including The Zoological Record and BIOSIS. It was also recognized by various standard abbreviations and indexing systems such as ISO 4, CODEN, JSTOR, and Scopus.
In 2006, the journal transitioned to an open access model, removing barriers to information and allowing the global scientific community to access its archives freely under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ISSN (Print/Web) | 0024-0672 / 1876-2174 |
| OCLC Number | 212304577 |
| ISO 4 Abbreviation | Zool. Meded. |
| Publication Period | 1915–2014 |
| Final Status | Merged into European Journal of Taxonomy |
The Transition to the European Journal of Taxonomy
After 99 years of continuous publication, the final article of Zoologische Mededelingen was released in 2014. To further the goals of taxonomic research on a broader scale, the journal was merged into the European Journal of Taxonomy.
While the journal is no longer active, its complete backlist of published volumes remains available through the institutional repository of Naturalis, preserving a century of zoological knowledge for future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary focus of Zoologische Mededelingen?
The journal specialized in animal systematics, publishing peer-reviewed papers and monographs regarding the classification and diversification of animals.
Who published the journal?
It was published by the National Museum of Natural History (Naturalis) located in the Netherlands.
Is the content of the journal still available?
Yes, a complete backlist of all published volumes is maintained and accessible via the Naturalis institutional repository.
When did the journal become open access?
Zoologische Mededelingen became an open access publication in 2006.
What happened to the journal after 2014?
The journal ceased independent publication in 2014 and was merged into the European Journal of Taxonomy.