1. ANNALES SHN (Annals for Istrian and Mediterranean Studies, Series Historia Naturalis) publishes original scientific articles and review papers in the field of natural sciences related to Mediterranean environments and natural-history topics, including marine biology and ecology, ichthyology, geology and palaeontology, karst studies, olive growing, biodiversity, nature conservation, pollution and environmental protection, physical geography, and related disciplines.

2. Manuscripts may be submitted in English, Slovene, or Italian language. Authors are responsible for ensuring that the language is accurate and of publishable quality. The editorial board reserves the right to arrange additional language editing when necessary.

3. Manuscripts should not exceed 48,000 characters (excluding spaces) or 32 double-spaced typewritten pages.

Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s online submission system – Open Journal System web portal (https://zdjp.si/ojs/index.php/ashn/about/submissions). In exceptional cases, approved by the Editorial board, manuscripts may be submitted by email to annalesshn@nib.si. 

4. The first page of the manuscript should include: the title of the article; the full name(s) of the author(s); the affiliation(s) of the author(s) (institution name and address) or home address; and the e-mail address of the first author or corresponding author.

5. Each manuscript must include an abstract of no more than 10 lines (Times New Roman, 12 pt). The abstract should briefly state the aim of the article, the methods used, and the main results. It should not include commentary, evaluation, or recommendations.

6. Below the abstract, authors should provide up to 5 keywords. If possible, authors should also provide an English, Italian or Slovene translation of the abstract and keywords. If no translation is supplied, it will be prepared by the editorial board.

7. The main text should be structured as follows: Introduction, Material and Methods, Results, Discussion (or Results and Discussion), Conclusions (optional), Acknowledgements (optional), and References. Subsections may be used where appropriate (for example, Description of the Research Area under Material and Methods). Figure captions should be placed on separate page(s) after the References.

8. Each table should be provided on a separate page in Word format, in the same file as the main text. Tables should be numbered consecutively and supplied with a brief, informative title. References to tables in the main text should follow the format (Tab. 1) or, where appropriate in the sentence, Table 1.

9. Figures (diagrams, maps, photographs, plates, and similar material) should be submitted as separate files in JPEG or TIFF format. The minimum resolution is 300 dpi at the intended reproduction size. The maximum publication size is 17 x 20 cm. Before publication, authors must obtain all necessary permissions for any copyrighted visual material and submit proof of permission to the editorial board. All figures should be captioned and numbered consecutively. References to figures in the main text should follow the format: (Fig. 1) or, where appropriate in the sentence, Figure 1.

10. In-text citations should include the author surname and year of publication, for example (Novak, 2007). For two authors, include both surnames: (Novak & Kranjc, 2001). For more than two authors, use the surname of the first author followed by et al. in italics: (Novak et al., 1999). Multiple references should be separated by semicolons and listed in ascending chronological order, for example (Novak et al., 1999; Adamič, 2001). When citing personal communication (oral or written), use the initial and surname of the informant followed by pers. comm., for example (J. Novak, pers. comm.).

11. The reference list should appear under the heading References and should include only works cited in the text. Entries should be arranged alphabetically. If several works by the same author are listed, first list works authored individually, then works co-authored with one other author, and finally works co-authored with more than one author; within each group, entries should be listed chronologically. Journal titles should not be abbreviated.

Unpublished manuscripts may be cited only if they have been accepted for publication; in such cases, add the designation in press at the end of the reference. If possible, authors should include the DOI at the end of each reference.

References should be formatted consistently according to the following examples:

• Article in a scientific journal:

Kabasakal, H., U. Uzer & F.S. Karakulak (2023): Occurrence of deep-sea squaliform sharks, Echinorhinus brucus (Echinorhinidae) and Centrophorus uyato (Centrophoridae), in Marmara shelf waters. Annales, Series Historia Naturalis, 33(1), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.19233/ASHN.2023.05.

In references with more than five authors, only the first five authors should be listed, followed by et al.:

Mancusi, C., R. Baino, C. Fortuna, L. de Sola, G. Morey et al. (2020): MEDLEM database, a data collection on large elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean and Black seas. Mediterranean Marine Science, 21, 276–288. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.21148.

• Book or other non-serial publication (report, doctoral dissertation, thesis):

Wheeler, A. (1969): The fishes of the British Isles and North-West Europe. McMillan, London, 613 pp.

• Chapter in an edited volume:

McEachran, J. D. & C. Capapé (1984): Myliobatidae. In: Whitehead, P. J. P., M. L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen & E. Tortonese (eds.): Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Vol. 1. Unesco, Paris, pp. 205–209.

• Website:

WoRMS Editorial Board (2026): WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species. Available at: https://www.marinespecies.org (last accessed: 20 May 2026). https://doi.org/10.14284/170.

12. Latin expressions such as in vivo, in situ, e.g., i.e., as well as genus names (Myliobatis sp.) and species names (Myliobatis aquila) should be written in italics. Whenever possible, authors should use SI units (Système international d’unités).

13. Authors will receive proofs for correction and should return them to the editorial board within 3 working days. At proof stage, corrections should be limited to factual, typographical, or production-related errors.

The text must not be expanded during proofreading. A second proof-reading stage is carried out by the editorial board.

14. To facilitate compliance with these instructions and the proper preparation of manuscripts, we have prepared a manuscript template, available here.

15. For additional information regarding manuscript submission and publication, please contact the editorial board.

Editorial Board of ASHN