The International Journal of Speleology is divided into four sections: Botany-Microbiology, Zoology, Geology-Geomorphology, and Abstract-News.

The first issue was edited by G. Claus (US), subsequently two other editors were added: R. Husson (France) and G Nicholas (USA).

In 1972 R. Husson became editor in chief and nine volumes were issued in the period 1964 to 1977 until the cost of printing requested a radical change.

In the meantime the Società Speleologica Italiana acquired the property of the journal which was printed with a contribution of the Italian Ministry for Culture and Environment, the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, and the University of Trieste.

In the second half of the 1990s the Museo di Speleologia "V. Rivera" also contributed to the financial support of the journal.