《系統古生物學雜志》發表的論文在系統發生學和系統學方面提供了新穎和有影響力的結果，并利用這些結果大大促進了我們對古地理、古生物學、功能形態學、古生態學或生物地層學的理解。如果論文涉及理論問題或分子系統發育，也將考慮它們是否與古系統學家有關。貢獻包括大量的解剖學描述，新的分類單元的描述或分類修訂是受歡迎的，但也必須包括一個實質性的系統學組成部分，如一個新的系統發育或修訂的分類。主要涉及字母分類學描述或介紹新的動物群/植物區系記錄的論文不屬于該期刊的職權范圍。

The Journal of Systematic Palaeontology publishes papers that provide novel and impactful results in phylogenetics and systematics and that use these results in ways that significantly advance our understanding of palaeogeography, palaeobiology, functional morphology, palaeoecology or biostratigraphy. Papers dealing with theoretical issues or molecular phylogenetics are also considered if they are of relevance to palaeo-systematists. Contributions that include substantial anatomical descriptions, descriptions of new taxa or taxonomic revisions are welcome, but must also include a substantial systematics component, such as a new phylogeny or revised classification. Papers dealing primarily with alpha-taxonomic descriptions or the presentation of new faunal/floristic records do not fall within the remit of the journal.