The Journal of Herpetology After 50 Years Plus: A Brief History (1958–2016)1
The Journal of Herpetology (JH), which reached its 50th volume in 2016, had an unusual start. Its predecessor publication was founded in 1958 by high school students as the Journal of The Ohio Herpetological Society (JOHS), which was sponsored by an amateur organization. The scope of the journal as well as that of the society soon became broader than Ohio or even North America. In 1967 OHS transformed into the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), which today is the largest professional herpetological society in the world. The journal was re-named Journal of Herpetology in 1968 and the volumes numbered again from 1. The journal, like SSAR, grew rapidly in size and professionalism. In 2009, JH was selected as one of the “100 most influential journals in biology and medicine worldwide over the last 100 years.” Originally, taxonomy–systematics (37%), ecology (20%), behavior (16%), physiology (8%), and genetics (4%) predominated as topics in JH; today, ecology (28%), conservation (19%), behavior (16%), taxonomy–systematics (13%), and physiology (9%) predominate. The JH is now the most-popular scientific journal in the world for biologists to publish on amphibians and reptiles. In this historical essay, I discuss major events in the development of the journal and list (in an Appendix) the editorial teams that collectively have helped shape JH. El “Journal of Herpetology” (JH), el cual llegó a su volumen número 50 en 2016, tuvo un inicio poco usual. Su publicación predecesora fue fundada en 1958 por estudiantes de educación media superior, los cuales la nombraron el “Journal of The Ohio Herpetological Society” (JOHS), una organización amateur. El alcance de la revista así como el de la sociedad muy pronto se expandieron más allá de los límites de Ohio e incluso de Norteamérica. En 1967 la OHS se transformó en la “Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles” (SSAR), que actualmente es la organización herpetológica profesional más grande del mundo. La revista se rebautizó “Journal of Herpetology,” en 1968 y los volúmenes se numeraron nuevamente desde el 1. La revista así como la SSAR crecieron rápidamente en tamaño y profesionalismo. En 2009, el JH fue seleccionado como una de “las 100 revistas más influyentes en biología y medicina a nivel mundial en los últimos 100 años.” Originalmente, la taxonomía/sistemática (37%), ecología (20%), comportamiento (16%), fisiología (8%) y genética (4%) fueron en orden de importancia los temas predominantes en el JH; mientras que ahora lo son: ecología (28%), conservación (19%), comportamiento (16%), taxonomía/sistemática (13%) y fisiología (9%). El JH es actualmente la revista científica más popular en el mundo entre los biólogos que publican sobre anfibios y reptiles. Los eventos más importantes en el desarrollo de la revista se discuten y se da una lista de los cuerpos editoriales en un Apéndice.Abstract
Resumen
First Annual Meeting of The Ohio Herpetological Society. Meeting held at the Toledo Zoological Park and Museum of Science in Toledo, Ohio (22 June 1958). Several early society officers are pictured, including those responsible for the journal: Kraig Adler, editor (person 12 from left; at rear) and David M. Dennis, vice-chairman for publications (person 5 from right; at rear).
Early journals of The Ohio Herpetological Society. (A–B): Cover and title page of the first issue (vol. 1, no. 1, published 20 January 1958); cover with outline of the State of Ohio drawn by David M. Dennis; text printed on a ditto machine. Format size 8.5 × 11 inches. (C–D): Cover and title-page of first special-focus issue (vol. 2, no. 3, April 1960); study of Ohio salamanders with illustrated key by Frederick Gehlbach. Note underlining of Latin names. The image of Sistrurus catenatus appeared on issues of volume 2 (1959–1960); format size of volumes 2 and 3 was 5.5 × 8.5 inches.
Re-designed issues of the society's scientific journals. (A): Cover of major re-designed Journal of The Ohio Herpetological Society (vol. 4, nos. 1–2, September 1963); enlarged issue (64 pages in length and 7 × 10-inch format) with new society colors and frog logo. (B): Cover of first volume of Journal of Herpetology (vol. 1, nos. 1–4, March 1968 [published April 26]), new cover design but with same elements. (C): Modern journal format established (vol. 16, no. 1, March 1982); new cover design as well as text pages. (D): Page dimensions of journal increased to 8.5 × 11 inches in 2011 (the current format size). This image of Tomistoma schlegelii appeared on all of the 2013 covers.
“Top 100 Journals” award to Journal of Herpetology. (A): Gold seal of the Special Libraries Association (2009). (B): SSAR president Brian Crother flanked by journal editor, Matthew Parris (at left) and SSAR board of directors member, Kevin de Queiroz, display the award certificate recognizing the journal's inclusion among the “100 Most Influential Journals of Biology and Medicine over the Last 100 Years.”
Events in the development of the Journal of Herpetology, 1958–2015. Changes in pagination by volume over 58 years (graphed as total pages at end of each year) includes the nine years of the journal's precursor, Journal of The Ohio Herpetological Society. The terms of the various editors are displayed across the top of the figure.
Contributor Notes
Invited paper.
