1. Purpose of the Withdrawal Policy
Zoological Records and Reviews recognizes that authors may occasionally need to withdraw a manuscript. This Withdrawal Policy explains the conditions, procedures, and ethical considerations related to manuscript withdrawal at different stages of the editorial and publication process.
The policy is designed to protect the integrity of the scholarly record while ensuring fair treatment of authors.
2. Withdrawal Before Peer Review
Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript before the peer review process has begun without penalty. Withdrawal requests must be submitted in writing by the corresponding author through the journal’s official communication channels.
Once confirmed by the editorial office, the manuscript will be formally withdrawn from the journal’s system.
3. Withdrawal During Peer Review
Withdrawal requests submitted after peer review has commenced are strongly discouraged, as editorial and reviewer resources have already been committed.
In such cases:
- A written justification must be provided
- All co-authors must agree to the withdrawal
- The editorial office reserves the right to assess the request
The journal may decline withdrawal requests made without valid academic or ethical justification.
4. Withdrawal After Acceptance
Manuscripts that have been accepted for publication may only be withdrawn under exceptional circumstances, such as:
- Discovery of serious errors
- Ethical concerns identified by the authors
- Duplicate submission identified by the authors
Withdrawal at this stage requires:
- A formal written request
- Consent from all listed authors
- Editorial approval
Unjustified withdrawal after acceptance may be considered unethical and may result in future submission restrictions.
5. Withdrawal After Publication
Once an article is published, it becomes part of the permanent scholarly record and cannot be withdrawn. In cases where serious errors or ethical violations are identified post-publication, the journal follows established procedures for:
- Corrections
- Retractions
- Expressions of concern
These actions are taken in accordance with COPE guidelines to ensure transparency and integrity.
6. Ethical Considerations
Withdrawal requests made to:
- Submit the manuscript to another journal simultaneously
- Avoid unfavorable peer review outcomes
- Manipulate the editorial process
are considered unethical. The journal does not support practices that undermine responsible scholarly publishing.
7. Author Responsibilities
By submitting a manuscript to Zoological Records and Reviews, authors agree to:
- Complete the editorial process once initiated
- Communicate promptly with the editorial office
- Provide truthful and transparent reasons for withdrawal requests
Failure to follow ethical withdrawal practices may lead to editorial actions.
8. Editorial Responsibilities
Editors handle withdrawal requests objectively, confidentially, and fairly. All decisions are documented to ensure accountability and transparency.
9. Record Keeping
For transparency and audit purposes, the journal maintains internal records of withdrawn manuscripts, including the reason and stage of withdrawal. These records are confidential and used solely for editorial management.
10. Policy Review
This Withdrawal Policy is reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with evolving best practices in scholarly publishing and indexing requirements.