Overview
The Veliger was a peer‑reviewed scientific journal dedicated to the study of malacology, the branch of zoology that deals with mollusks. It was published in English in the United States and served as a venue for original research articles, reviews, and notes on the biology, taxonomy, ecology, and systematics of molluscan species.
Publication History
- Founding and Duration: The journal was established in 1958. Its final issue was released in September 2014, after more than five decades of continuous publication.
- Publishers: It was issued jointly by the California Malacozoological Society and the Northern California Malacozoological Club, both scholarly societies based in Berkeley, California.
- Frequency: Issues were released regularly, though the exact publication schedule varied over the journal’s lifespan.
Bibliographic Information
- ISSN: 0042‑3211
- LCCN: 65006141
- OCLC: 488613692
- Standard Abbreviation: Veliger (as per ISO 4)
Indexing and Impact
The Veliger was abstracted and indexed in several major scientific databases, including:
- Science Citation Index Expanded
- Current Contents/Agriculture, Biology & Environmental Sciences
- The Zoological Record
- BIOSIS Previews
- Scopus
According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal recorded a 2013 impact factor of 0.462.
Hijacking Incident
In March 2015, reports emerged that the legitimate journal had been hijacked by an impostor website that used the title “Veliger: An International Journal in Science.” The fraudulent version charged authors high article‑processing fees and presented a misleading appearance of legitimacy, falsely implying that the impact factor and database inclusions of the authentic The Veliger applied to it. The hijacked journal operated independently of the original societies and was not recognized as a scholarly outlet.
Legacy
During its operational years, The Veliger contributed significantly to malacological literature, providing a specialized platform for researchers worldwide. Its archives remain accessible through the Biodiversity Heritage Library and other scholarly repositories.
