Updated August 9th, 2017

"Till now, madness has been thought a small island in an ocean of sanity. I am beginning to suspect that it is not an island at all but a continent." -- Machado de Assis, The Psychiatrist.

The field of meta-heuristic search algorithms has a long history of finding inspiration in natural systems. Starting from classics such as Genetic Algorithms and Ant Colony Optimization, the last two decades have witnessed a fireworks-style explosion (pun intended) of natural (and sometimes supernatural) heuristics - from Birds and Bees to Zombies and Reincarnation.

The goal of the Evolutionary Computation Bestiary is to catalog the, ermm... exuberance of the meta-heuristic "eco-system". We try to keep a list of the many different animals, plants, microbes, natural phenomena and supernatural activities that can be spotted in the wild lands of the metaphor-based computation literature.

While we personally believe that the literature could do with more mathematics and less marsupials, and that we, as a community, should grow past this metaphor-rich phase in our field's history (a bit like chemistry outgrew alchemy), please note that this list makes no claims about the scientific quality of the papers listed. The EC Bestiary puts classic works of the metaheuristics literature (e.g., GAs, ACO) and some that describe their methods in mostly metaphor-free language (e.g., JTF, CFO) side by side with others for which the scientific rigor is, to put it mildly, lacking. In short, it is not a Hall of Fame of algorithms - think of it more as The island of Doctor Moreau: a place with a few good creatures, but which are vastly outnumbered by mindless beasts.

Finally, if you know a metaphor-based method that is not listed here, or if you know of an earlier mention of a listed method, please see the bottom of the page on how to contribute!

• African buffalo - J.B. Odili, M.N. Mohmad Kahar. "Solving the Traveling Salesman's Problem Using the African Buffalo Optimization". Computational intelligence and neuroscience, vol. 2016, Article ID 1510256, 12 pages, 2016. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Amoeba - Wang, H., Lu, X., Zhang, X., Wang, Q. and Deng, Y.. "A bio-inspired method for the constrained shortest path problem." The Scientific World Journal 2014 (2014). [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Animal behavior
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  • Migration P. Civicioglu, “Transforming geocentric cartesian coordinates to geodetic coordinates by using differential search algorithm.” Computers & Geosciences, 46, 229–247, 2012. [DOI]
  • Predation S. Luleseged, H.C. Ong, "Prey-Predator Algorithm: A New Metaheuristic Algorithm for Optimization Problems." Int. J. Info. Tech. Dec. Mak. 14, 1331 (2015). [DOI]
  • Searching S. He, Q.H. Wu, J.R. Saunders. "Group search optimizer: an optimization algorithm inspired by animal searching behavior." IEEE Transactions on evolutionary computation, 13(5), pp.973-990, 2009. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Ant Lion - S. Mirjalili. "The ant lion optimizer". Advances in Engineering Software, 83, pp.80-98, 2015. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Bachelors - Hu, Kahng, Tsao, "Old Bachelor Acceptance: A New Class of Non-Monotone Threshold Accepting Methods", ORSA Journal on Computing, 7(4):417-425, 1995 [DOI]
• Bacteria
  • Bacterial Chemotaxis - SD Müller et al.. "Optimization based on bacterial chemotaxis." IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation 6(1):16-29, 2002 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Bees
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• Birds
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• Black holes - Abdolreza Hatamlou. "Black hole: A new heuristic optimization approach for data clustering." Information Sciences 222:175-184, 2013. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Brainstorms - Y. Shi. "An optimization algorithm based on brainstorming process." Emerging Research on Swarm Intelligence and Algorithm Optimization, pp.1-35, 2015 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Butterflies - G. Wang, S. Deb, Z. Cui. "Monarch butterfly optimization.", Neural Computing and Applications 1-20, 2015. [DOI]

• Cats - Shu-Chuan Chu, Pei-Wei Tsai, and Jeng-Shyang Pan. "Cat swarm optimization." PRICAI 2006: Trends in artificial intelligence. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2006. 854-858. [DOI][Google Scholar]
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• Central force - Richard A. Formato. "Central force optimization: a new metaheuristic with applications in applied electromagnetics." Progress In Electromagnetics Research 77:425-491, 2007. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Chickens - Xianbing Meng, Yu Liu, Xiaozhi Gao, and Hengzhen Zhang. "A new bio-inspired algorithm: chicken swarm optimization." In International Conference in Swarm Intelligence, pp. 86-94. Springer International Publishing, 2014. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Chicken, See-See Partridge - R. Omidvar, H. Parvin, F. Rad. "SSPCO Optimization Algorithm (See-See Partridge Chicks Optimization)" Fourteenth Mexican International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (2015) [DOI]
• Clouds - G.W. Yan, Z.J. Hao. "A novel optimization algorithm based on atmosphere clouds model." International Journal of Computational Intelligence and Applications, 12(01), p.1350002, 2013. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Cockroach - I. C. Obagbuwa and A. O. Adewumi, "An Improved Cockroach Swarm Optimization", The Scientific World Journal, 2014. [DOI]
• Colliding bodies - A. Kaveh and V. R. Mahdavi. "Colliding bodies optimization: a novel meta-heuristic method." Computers & Structures 139:18-27, 2014. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Community of scientists - Alfredo Milani and Valentino Santucci. "Community of scientist optimization: An autonomy oriented approach to distributed optimization." AI Communications 25(2):157-172, 2012. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Coral reefs - S. Salcedo-Sanz, J. Del Ser, I. Landa-Torres, S. Gil-López, and J. A. Portilla-Figueras. "The coral reefs optimization algorithm: a novel metaheuristic for efficiently solving optimization problems." The Scientific World Journal 2014 (2014). [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Cuckoos - Xin-She Yang and Suash Deb. "Cuckoo search via Lévy flights." IEEE World Congress on Nature & Biologically Inspired Computing (NaBIC), 2009. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

• Dogs - C. Subramanian, A.S.S. Sekar and K. Subramanian, "A New Engineering Optimization Method: African Wild Dog Algorithm", International Journal of Soft Computing 8(3), 2013. [Google Scholar]
• Dolphins
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• Dragonflies - S. Mirjalili. "Dragonfly algorithm: a new meta-heuristic optimization technique for solving single-objective, discrete, and multi-objective problems." Neural Computing and Applications, 27(4):1053-1073, 2016. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

• Eagles - X.S. Yang, S. Deb. "Eagle strategy using Lévy walk and firefly algorithms for stochastic optimization." In Nature Inspired Cooperative Strategies for Optimization (NICSO 2010) (pp. 101-111). Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2010. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Ecology - R.S. Parpinelli, H.S. Lopes. "An eco-inspired evolutionary algorithm applied to numerical optimization." In Nature and Biologically Inspired Computing (NaBIC), 2011 Third World Congress on (pp. 466-471). IEEE, October 2011. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Electromagnetism - E. Cuevas et al.. "Circle detection using electro-magnetism optimization." Information Sciences, 182(1), pp.40-55, 2012. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Elephants
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• Emotions - Y. Xu, Z. Cui, J. Zeng. "Social emotional optimization algorithm for nonlinear constrained optimization problems." In International Conference on Swarm, Evolutionary, and Memetic Computing (pp. 583-590). Springer Berlin Heidelberg, December 2010. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Epidemics - G. Huang "Artificial Infections Disease Optimization: A SEIQR epidemic dynamic model-based Function Optimization Algorithm", Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, 27 pp 31-67, 2016. [DOI]
• Experts - V. V. Melo "Kaizen Programming". Proceedings of the 2014 Annual Conference on Genetic and Evolutionary Computation (GECCO) pp 895-902 (2014) [DOI]

• FIFA World Cup - N. Razmjooy, M. Khalilpour, M. Ramezani. "A New Meta-Heuristic Optimization Algorithm Inspired by FIFA World Cup Competitions: Theory and Its Application in PID Designing for AVR System." Journal of Control, Automation and Electrical Systems (2016):1-22, 2016. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Fireflies - Xin-She Yang. "Firefly algorithms for multimodal optimization." Stochastic algorithms: foundations and applications. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2009. 169-178. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Fish
  • Catfish - Li-Yeh Chuang, Sheng-Wei Tsai, and Cheng-Hong Yang. "Improved binary particle swarm optimization using catfish effect for feature selection." Expert Systems with Applications 38(10):12699-12707, 2011. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Flower pollination - Xin-She Yang. "Flower pollination algorithm for global optimization." In International Conference on Unconventional Computing and Natural Computation, pp. 240-249. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2012.[DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Fractals - H. Salimi. Stochastic fractal search: a powerful metaheuristic algorithm. Knowledge-Based Systems, 75, pp.1-18, 2015. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Frogs
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  • Japanese tree frogs - H. Hernández, C. Blum. "Distributed graph coloring: an approach based on the calling behavior of Japanese tree frogs." Swarm Intelligence 6.2 (2012): 117-150. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Fruit Fly - WT Pan "A new fruit fly optimization algorithm: taking the financial distress model as an example." Knowledge-Based Systems, pp 69-74, 2012 [DOI] [Google Scholar]

• Galaxies - Hamed. Shah-Hosseini "Principal components analysis by the galaxy-based search algorithm: a novel metaheuristic for continuous optimisation." International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering 6(1-2):132-140, 2011. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
• Gas molecules - M. Abdechiri, M.R. Meybodi, H. Bahrami. Gases Brownian motion optimization: an algorithm for optimization (GBMO). Applied Soft Computing, 13(5), pp.2932-2946, 2013. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Gravitation - B. Webster and P.J. Bernhard. "A local search optimization algorithm based on natural principles of gravitation.", Proceedings of the international conference on information and knowledge engineering (IKE’03), 2003. 255–261. [IT Florida] [Google Scholar]
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• Hoopoe - Mohammed El-Dosuky, Ahmed El-Bassiouny, Taher Hamza, and Magdy Rashad. "New hoopoe heuristic optimization." International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology 2(9):85-90, 2012. [Google Scholar] [IJSAT]
• Heart - Abdolreza Hatamlou. "Heart: a novel optimization algorithm for cluster analysis". Progress in Artificial Intelligence, 2(2), pp. 167-173, 2014. [DOI]

• Invasive weeds - A.R. Mehrabian, C. Lucas. "A novel numerical optimization algorithm inspired from weed colonization." Ecological informatics, 1(4), pp.355-366, 2006. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Jaguars - Chin-Chi Chen et al.. "A Novel Metaheuristic: Jaguar Algorithm with Learning Behavior." IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC), pp. 1595-1600, 2015. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

• Keshtel - M. Hajiaghaei-Keshteli, M. Aminnayeri, “Solving the integrated scheduling of production rail transportation problem by Keshtel algorithm.” Applied Soft Computing, 25, 184–203, 2014. [DOI]
• Krill - Amir Hossein Gandomi and Amir Hossein Alavi. "Krill herd: a new bio-inspired optimization algorithm." Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation 17(12):4831-4845, 2012. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

• Ladybirds - Peng Wang, Zhouquan Zhu, and Shuai Huang. "Seven-spot ladybird optimization: a novel and efficient metaheuristic algorithm for numerical optimization." The Scientific World Journal 2013:378515-378515, 2013. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Market - N. Ghorbani, E. Babaei, “Exchange market algorithm.” Applied Soft Computing, 19, 177–187, 2014. [DOI]
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• Monkeys
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• Musicians - Zong Woo Geem, Joong Hoon Kim, and G. V. Loganathan. "A new heuristic optimization algorithm: harmony search." Simulation 76(2):60-68, 2001. [DOI][Google Scholar]

• Newton's Law - A. Kaveh, A. Dadras. "A novel meta-heuristic optimization algorithm: Thermal exchange optimization". Advances in Engineering Software, Volume 110, 69-84, 2017. [DOI]

• Optics - A.H. Kashan. A new metaheuristic for optimization: optics inspired optimization (OIO). Computers & Operations Research, 55, pp.99-125, 2015. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

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• Plants
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• Political Imperialism - Esmaeil Atashpaz-Gargari and Caro Lucas. "Imperialist competitive algorithm: an algorithm for optimization inspired by imperialistic competition." Evolutionary Computation, 2007. CEC 2007. IEEE Congress on. IEEE, 2007. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Rays of light - A. Kaveh and M. Khayatazad. "A new meta-heuristic method: ray optimization." Computers & Structures 112:283-294, 2012. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Salmon migrations - A. Mozaffari, A. Fathi, S. Behzadipour. "The great salmon run: a novel bio-inspired algorithm for artificial system design and optimisation." International Journal of Bio-Inspired Computation 4.5: 286-301, 2012. [Google Scholar]
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• Sports championships - Ali Husseinzadeh Kashan. "League Championship Algorithm: A new algorithm for numerical function optimization." International Conference on Soft Computing and Pattern Recognition, 43--48, 2009. [DOI]
• Swallows - Mehdi Neshat, Ghodrat Sepidnam, and Mehdi Sargolzaei. "Swallow swarm optimization algorithm: a new method to optimization." Neural Computing and Applications 23(2):429-454, 2013. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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• Teachers - R. V. Rao, V. J. Savsani, D. P. Vakharia, “Teaching-learning-based optimization: a novel method for constrained mechanical design optimization problems.” Computer-Aided Design, 43, (3), 303–315, 2011. [DOI]
• Termites - R. Hedayatzadeh et al.. "Termite colony optimization: A novel approach for optimizing continuous problems." In 2010 18th Iranian Conference on Electrical Engineering (pp. 553-558). IEEE, May 2010. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
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("the Zoo Keepers")

• Claus Aranha, Tsukuba University, Japan.
• Felipe Campelo, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil.

(at least one contribution to the bestiary - in terms of adding a method to the list, not inventing it!)

• Adré Steyn - University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Alberto Franzin - Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
• André Maravilha - UFMG, Brazil
• Carlos Fonseca - University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Ciniro Nametala - UFMG, Brazil
• Eduardo Hauck - UFJF, Brazil
• Fabio Daolio - University of Stirling, Scotland UK
• Fernanda Takahashi - UFMG, Brazil
• Fernando Otero - University of Kent, England UK
• Fillipe Goulart - UFMG, Brazil
• Iago A. de Carvalho - UFMG, Brazil
• Iztok Fister Jr. - University of Maribor, Slovenia
• Kenneth Sörensen - University of Antwerp, Belgium
• Lars Magnus Hvattum - Molde University College, Norway
• Marc Sevaux - Université de Bretagne-Sud, France
• Marco Mollinetti - University of Tsukuba, Japan
• Marco Pranzo - Università di Siena, Italy
• Marcus Ritt - UFRGS, Brazil
• Nadarajen Veerapen - University of Stirling, Scotland UK
• Robin Purshouse - University of Sheffield, England UK
• Rubén Ruiz - Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
• Ruud Koot - Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
• Sara Silva - University of Lisbon
• Silvano Martello - University of Bologna
• Stefan Voß - Universität Hamburg, Germany
• Thomas Jacob Riis Stidsen - Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Denmark
• Thomas Stützle - Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium

If you know a paper that should belong to this list, please send an e-mail to either Claus or Felipe, or report an issue on our Github repo. The criteria for inclusion are quite simple:

1. the work must be in a peer reviewed publication (journal or conference);
2. the title or abstract must name the algorithm after the natural (or supernatural) metaphor on which it was based;

It is also important to highlight that only the earliest known mention for each metaphor is included.

• If you liked this list, you should read the paper "Metaheuristic: The Metaphor Exposed", by Kenneth Söresen
• Need inspiration for your next Bioinspired algorithm? Check Marco Scirea and Julian Togelius' Daily Bio-heuristics bot.
• Some of the algorithms listed here were found in a list compiled by Iztok Fister Jr. et al., which is available here. Iztok also recently published this paper reflecting on the proliferation of metaphors in EC research.
• A fantastic parody of this whole metaphor craze can be read here. Highly recommended!

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license (Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike International License version 4.0): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

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