SVP : Publications : The SVP Memoir series

Publications

The SVP Memoir Series

About the Memoir Series
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir series publishes longer original contributions on the same aspects of vertebrate paleontology covered by the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (JVP). The acceptability of manuscripts for the Memoir series is determined through the same review process used for articles in the Journal. The Memoirs provide the opportunity for publishing single major works that are too lengthy to be considered for Journal articles, as well as collections of shorter papers with a single theme (e.g., symposium proceedings) that might appropriately be published in a single volume.

Submitting a Proposal for the Memoir Series
Each year the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (Society) will publish one or more Memoirs that total 200 printed pages that do not carry any page charges to the author(s). Page charges would be applicable beyond the initial 200 printed pages. Additional Memoirs, beyond the 200 page limit, may also be published as supplements to the same volume of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology but with the full cost of publication and the added mailing cost. Proposals for Memoirs that will be fully or partially underwritten will be considered by a review panel.

Review panel
A small panel comprising the Memoirs Editor and four additional SVP members will review the proposal and make a decision based on quality and likely appeal to a broad spectrum of the membership. Ideally the members' specialist areas will cover a broad range of vertebrate paleontology subdisciplines. The Senior Editor, Managing Editor and Memoirs Editor will be responsible for appointing the panel subject to the approval of the President of the Society. Members will serve three year terms with staggered appointments for the original five members to ensure continuity.

Proposal Submission Requirements
A 3 - 5 page proposal is requested that outlines the content of the proposed Memoir and why it is of relevance to the Society in general, including:

an indication of the length of the manuscript
the number of illustrations and whether any will be rendered in color
evidence of progress on the manuscript
a schedule that details the timeline for submission and review
a listing of potential reviewers and their availability

Proposal Submission and Selection Deadlines and Information
A single round of submissions will take place each year for intended publication sometime during the following year.

For the 2011 Memoir:

Proposals must be submitted: by April 30, 2010.
Potential authors will be notified of the panel's decision by: June 1, 2010.

For subsequent years:

Proposals must be submitted by: January 31.
Potential authors will be notified of the panel's decision by: March 1.

In the event that two exceptionally high quality proposals are received in the same competition the selection panel has the option to accept both, but delay the publication of the second until the following year. This would potentially have an effect for competitions in subsequent years.

Proposals are to be sent by E-mail to BOTH:
Nick Fraser, Memoir Editor at: Nick.Fraser@nms.ac.uk
and
The SVP Business Office at: Memoirs@vertpaleo.org

Selected Manuscript Schedule
Manuscripts that have been selected for publication must be submitted through Manuscript Central no later than November 1 of the year of the proposal, but preferably earlier. The complete revised manuscript must be available for final approval by the Memoirs Editor no later than June 30 of the following year. This provides a period of up to two months for review followed by 6 months for revision. This schedule will ensure that the Memoir can published as a supplement to issue 5 or 6 of that year's Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. If the submission is received earlier it may allow publication as a supplement to an earlier issue of the volume.

All submitted manuscripts must follow JVP style exactly, with high-quality illustrations in JVP-acceptable formats. Submission of a color cover illustration is mandatory.

For additional information on policy please consult the editor, Nicholas C. Fraser. The "Guidelines for Manuscript Preparation" for the Journal (except for statements regarding manuscript length) are generally also applicable to Memoirs, although Memoirs will have additional special requirements (e.g., table of contents). The guidlines for authors are available here.

Back Issues of the Memoir Series

Order back copies of the Memoir series online.

Balanoff, A.M. and T. Rowe. 2007. Osteological description of the extinct elephant bird, Aepyornis (Palaeognathae: Ratitae). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 9: 1-53; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27(4)
Sampson, Scott D. and David W. Krause (eds.). 2007. Majungasaurus crenatissimus (Theropoda: Abelisauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 8: 1-184; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27(2)
Brochu, C. A. 2002. Osteology of Tyrannosaurus rex: Insights from a nearly complete skeleton and high-resolution computed tomographic analysis of the skull. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 7: 1-138; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(2)
Rowe, T., C. A. Brochu and K. Kishi (eds.). 1999. Cranial morphology of Alligator mississippiensis and phylogeny of Alligatoroidea. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 6: 1-100; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 19(2)
Wilson, J. A. and P. C. Sereno. 1998. Early evolution and higher-level phylogeny of sauropod dinosaurs. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 5: 1-68; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18(2)
Grande, L and W. E. Bemis. 1998. A comprehensive phylogenetic study of amiid fishes (Amiidae) based on comparative skeletal anatomy. An empirical search for interconnected patterns of natural history. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 4: 1-690; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18(1)
Witmer, L. M. 1997. The evolution of the antorbital cavity of archosaurs: a study in soft-tissue reconstruction in the fossil record with an analysis of the function of pneumaticity. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 3: 1-73; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 17(1)
Sereno, P. C. 1991. Basal archosaurs: phylogenetic relationships and functional implications. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 2: 1-53; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 11(4)
Grande, L and W. E. Bemis. 1991. Osteology and phylogenetic relationships of fossil and Recent paddlefishes (Polyodontidae) with comments on the interrelationships of Acipensiformes. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 1: 1-121; supplement to Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 11(1)