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We present four cases of rare developmental anomalies in the smooth snake Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768 from western Poland. These include brachycephaly, lordosis, a supernumerary row of 'ventral' scales, and the third reported case of dicephalism in snakes from Poland. All the cases are supported by X-ray radiography. One of the possible explanations for these anomalies is a low genetic variation in populations from western Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the development of the avian skeleton has attracted considerable attention, most of the studies have been concentrated on the embryonic period, while studies on the postnatal period are rare. We studied the postnatal development of the skeleton in two phylogenetically distant birds, an altricial passerine Acrocephalus scirpaceus and a semiprecocial charadriiform Chroicocephalus ridibundus. The neonates of the former, despite being altricial, have well‐ossified skeleton—the degree of development approaches that of the semiprecocial gull. However, after hatching the limb bones (particularly those of the hind limb) ossify earlier in the gull which is probably related to faster acquisition of locomotor abilities. We have observed that, in contrast to previous reports from neognathous birds, in the ankle of the gull, the ascending process fuses with the astragalus rather than with the calcaneum. This type of development is present in palaeognaths and nonavian dinosaurs but has not yet been reported in neognaths. This indicates a greater diversity within Neognathae and suggests a more complex scenario for the evolution of the avian ankle. However, data from a greater number of species are needed to establish the developmental sequence ancestral for neognathous birds. Furthermore, the sequence of bone fusions in the wrist of Acrocephalus is similar to the fossil‐documented evolutionary sequence observed in the phylogeny of early birds, with the semilunate carpal and major metacarpal fusing first, followed by the alular metacarpal fusing with the major metacarpal and then the major and minor metacarpal fusing proximally. These data underscore the importance of developmental studies for reconstructing the evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The so-called historical Polish discoveries of Triassic ‘dinosaurs’ have been repeatedly cited in papers and popular science books. Here, we re-evaluate each historical and purported Triassic dinosaur find from Poland. Additionaly, we describe several supposed ‘dinosaur’ bones collected by Polish geologists but only briefly mentioned: in regional geological journals, on collection labels, or in field notes. We attempt to assign all investigated specimens to the least inclusive taxon possible. Our revision indicates that part of this material represents non-dinosaur archosauromorph taxa. Most of the analysed specimens are fragmentary bones or isolated teeth and are indistinguishable from skeletal elements described from other well-known Triassic archosauromorph taxa. We conclude that fossils of dinosauriforms are present in the Upper Triassic of Silesia and Holy Cross Mountains. New analysis ofVelocipes guerichivon Huene, 1932 holotype specimen from Kocury shows that it is the proximal part of fibula of a medium-sized theropod (or even neotheropod). Formally undescribed part of dinosauriform limb bone from the Holy Cross Mountains andV.guerichifrom Silesia are the only identifiable dinosauromorph skeletal remains recognised in the Polish Triassic discovered prior to the description ofSilesaurus opolensisDzik, 2003 from the Upper Carnian of Krasiejów. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the coloration of Slow worm or Anguis fragilis, limbless lizard native to Eurasia, which has been subjected to study for many branches of biology. It mentions that the Slow worm with blue coloration were somewhat classified as male. It also notes the difference between the female and male Slow worms.

The article discusses a case of tail bifurcation in Anolis bimaculatus (Panther Anole).

Johann Ludwig Christian Gravenhorst's herpetological collection at the Museum of Natural History, University of Wrocław included numerous important specimens of amphibians and reptiles. The majority, if not the entirety, of this collection has long been thought to be lost. However, we were able to rediscover some type specimens of lizards. The rediscovered specimens include the holotypes of Liolaemus conspersus and L. hieroglyphicus , one syntype of Callopistes maculatus (here designated as the lectotype) and two syntypes of L. lineatus (one of which is herein designated as the lectotype). Reexamination of these specimens indicates that previous synonymies proposed for L. conspersus and two syntypes of L. hieroglyphicus are problematic; furthermore, more complex taxonomic work is needed to resolve this issue. Two rediscovered syntypes of L. lineatus differ in several scalation traits and are possibly not conspecific. The type specimens of several other species of lizards from Gravenhorst's collection ( Liolaemus marmoratus , L. unicolor and two other syntypes of L. lineatus , Leiocephalus schreibersii and Chalcides viridanus ) were not found and are probably lost., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.