1 Introduction

Animals are an integral part of the earth and play an important role in global ecosystems. From the smallest insects to giant mammals, the study of animals spans a wide range of disciplines, and each animal group offers a wealth of knowledge waiting to be discovered. We believe that through in-depth scientific exploration of animals, significant progress can be made in various fields.

Discover Animals is part of the Discover journal series committed to providing a streamlined submission process, rapid review and publication, and a high level of author service at every stage. It is a multi-disciplinary, open access, community-focussed journal publishing research from across all fields relevant to animal science.

It aims to be an international resource for researchers, policy makers and the general public for recent advances in animal science and its uses in research development and society.

2 Topics

Topics welcomed at Discover Animals include but are not limited to the following:

Animal welfare and ethics

  • Animal health

  • Animal welfare

  • Animal rights

  • Ethical considerations in animal research

  • Animal welfare legislation

Animal behavior

  • Behavioral ecology

  • Evolution of behavior

  • Sociobiology

  • Navigation and migration

  • Social behavior

  • Reproductive behavior

  • Predator–prey relationships

Animal physiology

  • Anatomy and morphology

  • Physiology and biochemistry

  • Endocrinology

  • Immunology

  • Neurobiology

  • Comparative physiology

Animal ecology

  • Habitat use and selection

  • Population ecology

  • Community ecology

  • Ecosystem dynamics

  • Conservation biology

  • Biodiversity and species interactions

  • Taxonomy and systematics

Animal cognition

  • Ethology

  • Animal learning

  • Cognitive sciences

  • Comparative psychology

  • Evolutionary psychology

  • Symbol use; signaling; communication

  • Numerical competence and frequency expectancies

  • Problem solving, animal thinking and use of tools

Animal protection and conservation

  • Population biology

  • Evolutionary ecology

  • Population genetics

  • Biodiversity

  • Biogeography

  • Palaeobiology

  • Population dynamics

  • Habitat conservation

  • Threatened and endangered species

  • Invasive species

  • Wildlife management

  • Conservation strategies

  • Conservation policies and practices

Animal reproduction and breeding

  • Reproductive physiology

  • Assisted reproductive technologies

  • Breeding programs

  • Poultry farming

  • Aquaculture

  • Sustainable farming practices

  • Disease resistance

Animal nutrition and feeding

  • Optimal feeding practices

  • Nutritional requirements

  • Feed formulation

  • Feed quality assessment

  • Mitigation of enteric methane

  • Utilization of by-product as animal feed

  • Rumen fermentation

  • Alternative feed resources

  • Feed additives

  • Plant phytonutrient compounds

Animal/zoonotic diseases

  • Diagnosis, prevention, and control of disease

  • Discovery of etiological agents for animal diseases

  • Pathogenesis and biology of new and re-emerging animal diseases

  • Rational use and invention of veterinary drugs and novel therapeutics

  • Epidemiology of animal and zoonotic diseases

  • Host tropism and transboundary spread of animal and zoonotic pathogens

Animal genetics

  • Molecular genetics

  • Functional genomics and microbiomics

  • Gene editing

  • Genetic diversity

  • Epigenetics

  • Epigenomics

  • Multi-omics and microbiomes

Human-animal Interaction

  • Human-animal bond

  • Impact of human activities on animals

  • Animals in society

  • Emotional support animals

  • Service animals

  • Cultural perspectives on animals

  • Animals in literature and art

3 Editorial board

Our commitment to excellence is epitomized by the esteemed individuals who form our Editorial Board—a diverse assembly of experts dedicated to steering the journal towards new heights of scholarly achievement.

4 Invitation to contribute

The journal particularly welcomes work that aims to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Life on Land; Life Below Water; Good Health and Well-Being; and Zero Hunger.

Discover Animals welcomes full-length Research articles as well as Brief Communications of empirical findings, Reviews, Perspectives, Comments, Case Studies, Registered Reports, and Data Notes from across the full range of disciplines concerned with animal science. The journal also publishes guest-edited Topical Collections of relevance to all aspects of animal science.

Inclusiveness and open research are indispensable pillars in fostering innovation and advancing knowledge. Inclusiveness emphasizes the importance of creating a diverse and welcoming research environment that values contributions from individuals with varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Open research, on the other hand, promotes transparency and accessibility in the dissemination of scientific findings, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of data and methodologies. By intertwining inclusiveness and open research practices, we not only enrich the research landscape but also ensure that the benefits of scientific progress are accessible to a wider audience, transcending geographical, socioeconomic, and disciplinary boundaries. Embracing both principles cultivates a more equitable and robust research community, capable of addressing complex challenges through collective wisdom and diverse insights.

We invite you to join us in this exciting endeavor to explore the wonders of the animal world. Let us continue to be inspired by the incredible diversity, resilience and beauty of the creatures that share our planet. Together, let’s discover the mysteries of the animal kingdom and, through our collective efforts, create a brighter future for all living things.