Introduction to the special issue “Contributions in honour of Zbyněk Roček”

12 Pages·2016·0.96 MB·English

PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12
DOI10.1007/s12549-015-0229-5
EDITORIAL
B
Introduction to the special issue Contributions in honour
ě č ^
of Zbyn k Ro ek
JamesD.Gardner1&TomášPřikryl2,3
Received:9December2015/Accepted:16December2015/Publishedonline:5February2016
#SenckenbergGesellschaftfürNaturforschungandSpringer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2016
Preface Biographicalsketchandcommentaryontheacademic
contributionsofZbyněkRoček
Overthe course ofhisnearlyfive decadeslong career, the
Czech herpetologist and palaeontologist Zbyněk Roček Zbyněk Roček was born on 16 August 1945, a few weeks
(Fig. 1) has become well known for his research on lower after the end of the WWII and two years before the be-
vertebrates, especially on the origins, anatomy, functional ginning of Soviet domination of Czechoslovakia, in
morphology, development, ecology, systematics and fossil thesmalltownofLitomyšlineasternBohemia,nowwith-
recordoffrogs.Zbyněkhasalsobeenateacherandsuper- in the Czech Republic. His childhood and youth were
visor,agenerousmentorandavaluedcolleagueforseveral spent in the region, initially in the town of Vysoké Mýto
generations of students and researchers. In recognition of and later in the town of Pardubice, where his father
Zbyněk Roček’s many academic contributions and on the worked as a public notary. Zbyněk completed the manda-
twin occasions in 2015 of his being appointed Emeritus tory eight years of primary school and, because he was
Professor at the Czech Academy of Sciences and his 70th destinedforuniversity,anadditionalthreeyearsofmiddle
birthday, here, we (1) provide a biographical sketch and school. During his middle school years, Zbyněk and sev-
commentaryonhisacademiccontributionsand(2)present eral friends served as field assistants for an ornithologist
acollectionofpapersbysomeofZbyněk’scolleaguesthat friend of his father’s—that experience lead to a lifelong
echo many of the themes and topics of his research interest in natural history and drove home the importance
programme. of regarding organisms, even fossil ones, as living entities
within their environment. Upon graduation in June 1962
and a few months shy of his 17th birthday, Zbyněk ap-
plied for entrance into Charles University in Prague,
ThisarticleisacontributiontothespecialissueBContributionsinHonour where he planned to study geography and biology, with
ofZbyněkRoček^. a particular emphasis on ornithology, in hopes of becom-
ingamiddle schoollecturer.Thecommitteeofschooland
* JamesD.Gardner communist party officials who reviewed university appli-
[email protected]
cations in those post-war years instead decreed that
* TomášPřikryl Zbyněk spend one year working in a variety of non-
[email protected] academic positions. During that year, Zbyněk established
his proletarian credibility by delivering milk from a dairy
1 RoyalTyrrellMuseumofPalaeontology,Box7500, factory, labouring as a bricklayer’s assistant, unloading
Drumheller,AlbertaT0J0Y0,Canada cargo from trains and working in a book store for a state
2 InstituteofGeologyoftheCzechAcademyofSciences,v.v.i., publishing house.
Rozvojová269,16500Praha6,CzechRepublic In August 1963, Zbyněk passed the entrance interviews
3 InstituteofGeologyandPalaeontology,CharlesUniversityin and was admitted into the Faculty of Science at Charles
Prague,Albertov6,12843Praha2,CzechRepublic University, and then promptly spent much of the next few
2 PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12
thatwastodefinethecourseofhisacademiccareer.AsZbyněk
recalls, a young research assistant in the Department of
Zoologytoldhim,BDon’tbefoolish,everyonewantstobean
ornithologist.Thinkaboutyourfuture:therearetoomanyor-
nithologistswhocannotgetjobs.Trytodosomethingelse,like
amphibians and their distribution. Nearly nothing is known
about that.^ Zbyněk took that advice to heart and, for his
Master’sthesis,studiedthedistributionofAlpinenewtsinthe
CzechRepublic;theresultsofthatworkappearedinatrioof
papers(Roček1968,1970,1972).Zbyněk’sfinalhalf-yearof
universitywasenlivenedbyeventsduringthePragueSpringof
1968, when Czechoslovakia cautiously flirted with political
reform,beforeSovietandotherWarsawPacttroopsoccupied
the country in August and Moscow’s will was re-imposed.
Zbyněk participated in some of the street rallies that summer
andthen,whenorderwasrestored,hereturnedtohisstudies.
HegraduatedwithaPromovanýBiolog(Prom.Biol.:‘gradu-
ated biologist’) degree later in the fall of that year. Although
manyofhisfellowgraduatesleftthecountrysoonaftergradu-
ation,Zbyněkelectedtoremain.
In1969,Zbyněkbeganjugglinghistimebetweenstarting
employmentasazoologistatasmallregionalmuseuminthe
town of Rychnov nad Kněžnou in eastern Bohemia and ful-
Fig. 1 Emeritus Professor Zbyněk Roček, in his laboratory at the fillinghisfinalyearofcompulsorymilitaryservice.Notwish-
Institute of Geology in March 2015. Photograph courtesy of Zbyněk ingtocontinueservingasatankcommander,aroleforwhich
RočekandPavelLisý(InstituteofGeologyoftheCzechAcademyof
he had trained part-time during university, he was able to
Sciences,v.v.i.,Prague)
exploithisgeographytrainingtogetre-assignedtoacartog-
raphyunit.Duringthesummerof1970,hisunitsurveyedand
corrected the positions of rock cairns used to demarcate the
monthsinanundergraduateworkpartythathelpedbringinthe
year’sharvestofhops(akeyingredientinbrewingtastyCzech bordersbetweenCzechoslovakiaandneighbouringcountries.
Thosecairnshadamysterioushabitofshiftingwhich,atleast
beer) and potatoes. After enduring the usual dull first year of
mandatory classes, over the next four years, Zbyněk enjoyed temporarily,allowedfarmersononesideofthebordertoplant
crops in a bigger field. Zbyněk recalls the work as being
thediversityofcourseshetookandtheinstructionhereceived
pleasantandnotespeciallyregimented.Duringthegrapehar-
within the departments of Physical Geography and Zoology.
vestingseason,heandhiscolleaguesusedtheirmilitarytruck
Many of his classes had a field-based component, which
Zbyněkfondlyrecallsasbeinginvaluableforcomplementing to haul grapes for local farmers in exchange for bottles of
delicious, locally made wine. One week in early July,
andexpandeduponwhatwastaughtintheclassroom.Healso
Zbyněk slipped away for a week to get married in Bohemia
gainedvaluableexperienceasateachingassistantinbothde-
and,uponreturningfromhishoneymoon,wasnotsurprised,
partments, participated in collecting expeditions with the
butstillrelieved,tofindthathisabsencehadnotbeenofficial-
Department of Zoology, was a member of the Faculty of
Science’s rock-climbing club and taught skiing.1 During his lynoticed.
secondyearatuniversity,Zbyněkreceivedsomepivotaladvice After completing his military service and while still at
the museum in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Zbyněk continued
1Onememorable,non-academicexperienceforZbyněkduringthattime his research on newts. In 1972, he was awarded a Rerum
wasabriefforayintothemoviebusiness.InJune1968,hewascastasan NaturaliumDoctor(RNDr.:‘Doctorofnaturalthings’)de-
extraintheWWIImovie‘TheBridgeatRemagen’(releasedin1969),for gree from Charles University for his dissertation on the
scenes being filmed along the Vltava River, south of Prague. Zbyněk
biometrics of central European populations of Alpine
recallsbeingpaidthethen-princelysumof100Czechcrownsperday,
newts. During his time at the museum, he generated over
andsubsequentlylearningthatthegoatbelongingtoafellowextrawas
alsoearningthesamedailyrateasthehumanextras.AlthoughZbyněk two dozen natural history publications, including two
haswatchedthefilmseveraltimes,hewasneverabletopickhimselfout about Alpine newts derived from his Rerum Naturalium
of the crowd scenes. In 2014, while touring fossil froglocalities near research (Roček 1974a, b), his first frog papers, which
Bonn, Germany, Zbyněk was finally able to visit the stretch of the
reported on developmental variation in body proportions
RhineValleywheretheoriginalRemagenBridgestood,butwasnever
rebuiltafterbeingdestroyedneartheendofthewar. and polydactyly in extant populations of green frogs
PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12 3
Zbyněk began working as Prof. Špinar’s assistant in
November1975(Fig.2).AtŠpinar’ssuggestion,Zbyněkim-
mediately began his Candidatus Scientiarum (CSc.; equiva-
lenttoaPhD)dissertationonthecranialanatomyanddevel-
opment of Pelobates. That study was Zbyněk’s first serious
foray into frogs, and many of its themes (e.g. the interplay
between development, ontogeny and evolution in tetrapods;
theosteology,origins,fossilrecordandsystematicsoffrogs)
were further explored and expanded upon during the rest of
hisresearchcareer.Thelatterhalfofthe1970swasabusyand
eventful time for Zbyněk. In 1976, he re-opened the
Bechlejovice Oligocene frog quarry in northern Bohemia,
but quickly realisedthere was littlechanceofcollectingany
significantnewfossilsfromthatalreadyexhaustivelysampled
quarry.3Despitehislimitedtimeworkingatthatquarry,many
previously collected specimens from Bechlejovice would be
featuredmuch laterinhis paperson development and meta-
morphosisinfossilpipoidfrogs(e.g.Roček2003a;Ročekand
Fig.2 ZbyněkRoček(left)andProfessorZdeněkV.Špinar(right),dur- VanDijk2006).Thenextyear,Zbyněkledacrewthatscreen
ingoneoftheirregularSundayafternoonwalksinMay1986inPrague. washed the lower Miocene Dolnice locality in western
Atthattime,Špinarwas70yearsoldandZbyněkhadbeenworkingas
Bohemia; the abundant, isolated bones from that locality
Špinar’s assistant for the past decade. Photograph courtesyofZbyněk
RočekandMarieŠpinarová(Třebíč) formedthebasisforaseriesofdescriptiveandfaunalpapers
by Zbyněk and colleagues through the 1980s (Moody and
Roček 1980; Rage and Roček 1983; Roček 1984a;
(Roček1974c,d),andhisonlysolo-authoredmammalpa- Młynarski and Roček 1985; Fejfar and Roček 1988). Also,
per(Roček1974e).Hispapersonnewtsandfrogsbrought in1977, the Czechoslovakian company Geoindustria, which
himtotheattentionofZdeněkŠpinar,whowasaprofessor wascarryingoutgeologicalmappingfortheLibyangovern-
of palaeontology at Charles University. Zbyněk had never ment,invitedProf.ŠpinarandZbyněktocollectatthethen-
met Prof. Špinar, although he was familiar with his work, recently discovered lower Oligocene locality of Jabal al
especially Špinar’s pair of classic palaeontology books Hasawinah, in the Sahara Desert. Their Libyan expedition
published just a few years earlier.2 Špinar invited Zbyněk resultedinthe discovery ofnumerousvertebratefossils(e.g.
to meet him at Charles University, where they examined ŠpinarandRoček1978;Roček1979),includingseveraldoz-
the university’s collection of articulated frog fossils from en frog skeletons belonging to a new species of Xenopus,4
the Oligocene locality of Bechlejovice in northern Bohe- plusthememorableexperienceofbeingbrieflydetainedand
mia and had a short discussion. At the end of that questionedassuspectedspiesbyLibyansecurityofficialsfor
meeting, Špinar offered Zbyněk a position at Charles havingsnappedphotographsinaTripolimarketontheirfirst
University as his assistant. This tempting offer was com- dayinthecountry.In1979,Zbyněkspentthreemonthswork-
plicated by the fact that Zbyněk’s wife Jana had only re- inginProf.ErikJarvik’slaboratoryattheSwedishMuseumof
cently secured a high school lecturer position in Rychnov, Natural History in Stockholm, where he was able to study
where they lived. Moving to Prague would mean Jana Jarvik’sextensivecollectionofDevoniansarcopterygianand
would have to wait for a similar teaching vacancy to open tetrapodfossils,includingsectioned skulls thatrevealedoth-
in one of Prague’s high schools. In a compromise familiar erwisehiddendetailsofinternalcranialanatomy.Insightsthat
to many academic couples, they decided on a short-term ZbyněkgleanedfromthatshortbutintensivetimeinSweden
solution: he would move to Prague to begin working at wereincorporatedintomanyofhissubsequentpapersdealing
Charles University, while she continued to live and work withtheoriginsanddevelopmentofamphibians(e.g.Roček
in Rychnov until a teaching position opened in Prague. 1981,1988a,1990,1993a,2003b).Also,in1979,Zbyněkand
JanabecameparentswhentheirdaughterHanawasborn.
2Špinar,Z.V.(1972).TertiaryfrogsfromCentralEurope.TheHague: 3Bechlejovice has yielded nearly 1600 fossil tadpoles and metamor-
Dr.W.JunkN.V. phosedfrogs(Z.Roček,personalcommunication,2015).
Špinar,Z.V.(1972).Lifebeforeman.London:ThamesandHudsonLtd. 4Špinar, Z. V. (1980). The discovery of a new species of pipid frog
[This book was translated into many other languages, although the (Anura,Pipidae)intheOligoceneofCentralLibya.InM.J.Salem&
Czechversiondidnotappearuntil16yearslater:Špinar,Z.V.(1988) M. T. Busrewil (Eds.), The geology of Libya. Vol. 1 (pp. 327–348).
Knihaopravěku.Prague:Albatros.] London:AcademicPress.
4 PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12
Zbyněk completed his dissertation and was awarded his 1980s also saw the publication of BEvoluce Obratlovců^ (=
Candidatus Scientiarum degree in 1980 from Charles BEvolution of Vertebrates^: Roček 1985a), the first of his
University. The following year, the monograph version of threesolo-authoredbooks.
his dissertationwas published in English(Roček 1981),and Through the latter part of the 1980s and into the early
itquicklybecameaclassicreferenceworkonthedevelopment 1990s, Zbyněk tackled his final graduate degree. In
andosteologyoftheanuranskull.5Followingthecompletion December 1991, he was awarded a Doctor of Sciences
ofthatdegree,ZbyněkremainedatCharlesUniversity,where (DrSc) degree from Charles University for his study on the
he continued his academic research and duties in the originandevolutionofanurans,whichwasbasedonaseries
Department of Paleontology and later in the Department of of 14 solo- and co-authored papers, some of which had not
Zoology. From 1992 onwards, he was cross-appointed as a beenpublishedbythetimehisdegreewasawarded(Böhmeet
Senior Researcher at the Institute of Geology of the Czech al. 1982; Jarošová and Roček 1982; Roček 1984b, 1985b,
AcademyofSciences,alsoconvenientlylocatedinPrague. 1986a, 1987, 1988a, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993b; Rage and
The next 35 years were devoted to teaching, supervising Roček 1989; Roček and Veselý 1989; Roček and Nessov
students, research, study trips abroad, and attending and 1993).Zbyněk’snextmajorundertakingthatdecadewasbe-
organising conferences. In 1980, Prof. Lehman hosted what ing the lead organiser for the 3rd World Congress of
wasintendedtobeasix-monthstudyvisitbyZbyněktothe Herpetology,whichmetduringAugust1997inPrague,6and
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris. When wasattendedbyoverathousandinternationaldelegates.For
Lehman unexpectedlydied soon after Zbyněk arrived, Jean- Zbyněk,oneofthe highlightsofthateventwasbeingpleas-
ClaudeRage(thenaCNRSresearcheratUniversitéParisVI) antlysurprisedathowmuchtheattendeesenjoyedanevening
andhiswifeAgnesbefriendedZbyněkandhelpedsalvagethe concert of classical Czech music presented as part of the
remainder of his Parisian visit. Jean-Claude and Zbyněk re- Congress programme. During the 1990s and into the next
mainclose friends and havecollaboratedona variety ofpa- millennium, Zbyněk continued his academiccareerand rose
pers, mostnotably onfrogorigins and re-descriptions ofthe through the ranks at Charles University, where he became a
stem frog Triadobatrachus (Rage and Roček 1986, 1989; FullProfessorin2007andthenanEmeritusProfessoratthe
RočekandRage2000a,b),theevolutionoffrogassemblages CzechAcademyofSciencesin2015.
in Europe during the Cenozoic (Rage and Roček 2003), a In recent correspondence to us, Zbyněk summed up his
reviewofTertiary anurans (Ročekand Rage2000c) and de- researchcareerbystatingthathewasprimarilyfocusedon
scriptionsofMiocene snakesand anEocene frog(Rage and theoriginsandstructuralevolutionofanurans,andthathe
Roček 1983, 2007). They also re-interpreted a supposed was especially interested in questions like: (1) what were
Devoniantetrapodprintasthesomewhatlessexcitingresting the principal anatomical transformations leading to the or-
trace of a starfish (Roček and Rage 1994). Another pivotal igin of the anuran body plan and subsequently during the
event during the 1980s that was to have long-term benefits group’s evolution, (2) how are these transformations doc-
for Zbyněk occurred in 1985, when he hosted the 3rd umented in the fossil record and ontogeny of extant frogs
Ordinary General Meeting of the European Herpetological and(3)towhatextentcananatomicalfeaturesthatarosein
Society in Prague. That meeting was attended by about 400 various froglineagesbeusedtoreconstructtheirphyloge-
delegates,andwasremarkableforbeingoneofthefirstocca- netic histories? Those themes and questions are especially
sionswhenherpetologistsandpalaeontologistsfromWarsaw prominentinhispapersandconferencepresentations,hav-
Pact countries and the rest of the world were able to freely ingtitlessuchasBTheincrassatiofrontoparietalisinfrogs,
meetandlearnabouteachother’swork.Asaresultofpersonal its origin and phylogenetic significance^ (Jarošová and
contactsmadeatthatconference,thenextyear, Zbyněkwas Roček 1982), BAnatomical transformations in the transi-
invited to work with several prominent Canadian and tion from temnospondyl to proanuran stages^ (Roček and
American colleagues at their home institutions. Since then, Rage 2000a), BOntogeny in Tertiary frogs^ (Roček 2004),
international collaborative research, especially on palaeonto- BTransformation of the pectoral girdle in the evolutionary
logical topics, has been an important component of origin of frogs: insights from the primitive anuran Disco-
Zbyněk’s career (e.g. Roček and Nessov 1993; Roček and
Lamaud 1995; Kordikova et al. 2001; Bernor et al. 2004;
Roček and Van Dijk 2006; Delfino et al. 2009; Gardner et 6Zbyněkrecallsthatthisconferencewasheldunderquitedifferentcir-
cumstancesthantheEuropeanHerpetologicalSocietymeetings12years
al.2010;Ročeketal.2010,2011,2012a,b,2015).Themid-
early.Intheinterveningyears,thecollapseofcommunismacrossEastern
EuropeandtheCzechoslovakianVelvetRevolutionpavedthewayini-
5Althoughlongoutofprint,digitalcopiesofthismonographarenow tiallyfortheinstallmentofademocraticgovernmentinthecountyand
accessible through several web sites (e.g. ResearchGate.net and thenitspeacefulpartitioningintotheCzechRepublicandSlovakia.As
Academia.edu) and from the ‘Scientific papers by Zbyněk Roček’ thoseofuswhoattendedthe1997meetingscanattest,bythattime,the
websitemaintainedbytheInstituteofGeologyoftheCzechAcademy Czech Republic was enthusiastically embracing capitalism and, once
ofSciencesat:http://rocek.gli.cas.cz/Bibliography.htm. again,PraguewasbecomingafashionableEuropeancity.
PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12 5
glossus^ (Havelková and Roček 2006) and BPost- Outside of his research, teaching and supervisory roles,
metamorphic development of Early Cretaceous frogs as a Zbyněk has provided decades’ worth of service to the
tool for taxonomic comparisons^ (Roček et al. 2012a). scientific community in a variety of ways. Especially no-
Thosesamethemesandquestionsarealsoevidenttovary- table in this regard have been his constructive and sup-
ing degrees in most of his other papers, including those portive reviews of manuscripts and grant applications, his
focused primarily on anatomy and development (e.g. mentoring of younger researchers (both of us have cer-
Kolesová et al. 2007; Královec et al. 2010; Roček et al. tainly benefited from Zbyněk’s advice and help over the
2015), functional morphology (e.g. Delfino et al. 2009; years) and his participation in organising numerous scien-
Přikryl et al. 2009; Robovská-Havelková et al. 2014) and tific conferences and symposia. As part of his ongoing
classical descriptive and systematic palaeontology (e.g. efforts to promote an appreciation for evolution and nat-
Roček 2008; Wuttke et al. 2012; Dong et al. 2013; Roček ural history within his country, Zbyněk also translated
et al. 2014). Other notable contributions by Zbyněk and into Czech four popular science books for adults7 and a
colleagues included summaries and reviews of the anuran larger number of books for children about dinosaurs and
fossil record (e.g. Sanchiz and Roček 1996; Roček and other animals. Presenting this tribute to Zbyněk in the
Rage2000c;Roček2000a,2013a)andfaunal-stylepapers journal Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments is es-
reporting on assemblages of frogs, other amphibians and pecially fitting, because he is a member of the editorial
reptiles from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic of Europe, Asia board and he supports the journal by providing thorough
and North America (e.g. Roček and Nessov 1993; Roček reviews and high-quality papers. Given his sense of hu-
1994a, b, 2005; Roček and Wuttke 2010; Roček et al. mour, Zbyněk undoubtedly appreciates the irony that, al-
2010). Although Zbyněk is justifiably best known for his thoughhisworkhaslargelyfocusedonfrogs,thusfar,the
work on frogs, he has also published a modest number of only taxon to be named in his honour has been the fossil
papers dealing with reptiles (e.g. Moody and Roček 1980; lizard Mediolacerta roceki.8
Roček 1980a, b, 1984a; Rage and Roček 1983; Młynarski AlthoughretirementhasfreedZbyněkofhisteachingand
andRoček1985).EchoinghisearlyworkonAlpinenewts, administrativeresponsibilities,hecontinuestoactivelypursue
Zbyněkhasmaintainedanongoingsidelineinterestinfos- researchand related projects, albeitata moreleisurely pace.
silandextantsalamanders(e.g. Roček 1994c,1996a, b,c, Forexample,inthepastyear,heco-authoredapaperonthe
1997a,b,c,1999;VaterandRoček2004)andalsocontrib- structure and taxonomic value of the frontoparietal bone in
uted Alpine newt accounts (Roček 1992a; Roček et al. palaeobatrachid frogs (Roček et al. 2015) and spent several
2003) for two natural history books. In keeping with his weeksworkingwithcolleaguesattheInstituteforVertebrate
modestnature,Zbyněktendstodownplayhisworkbyarguing Paleontology and Paleoanthropology inBeijing onnewfrog
thatnoneofhisprojectshasbeenespeciallyflashy.However, fossils. Currently, Zbyněk is editing a Festschrift for Prof.
evenacursoryglanceatthenumberandbreadthofhispubli- Špinarscheduledforpublicationin2016.9Retirementalso
cations (see ‘Selected scientific publications of Zbyněk means that Zbyněk and Jana are now able to devote more
Roček’atendofthisarticle)convincinglydemonstratesthat time to travelling and, closer to home, enjoying their
hisresearchprogrammehasmadesubstantialcontributionsto mountain cottage nestled in a forested landscape dotted
thefieldsofherpetologyandpalaeontology. with numerous small ponds inhabited, fittingly, by frogs
In addition to maintaining an active and productive re- and newts. We wish Zbyněk all the best for his well-
search programme, Zbyněk was a long-time teacher at
Charles University and supervised several dozen student re-
7FromEnglish:
search projects. Regarding his supervisory philosophy,
Gould,S.J.(2005).Dinosaurinahaystack.NewYork:HarmonyBooks.
Zbyněkstated,BIalwaysconsidereditimportantthatmystu- [In Czech: Gould, S. J. (2005). Dinosauři v kupce sena. Praha:
dentsworkonscientificproblemsthattheyliked,notonprob- Academia.]
Palmer,D.(1999).Theatlasoftheprehistoricworld.London:Marshal
lems imposed on them. A good scientist should be able to
Edition. [In Czech: Palmer, D. (2001). Prehistorický atlas. Vývoj
recogniseproblemsthatdeserve tobeclarified.^ Heencour- planetyZemě.Praha:Knižníklub.]
aged his students to work independently and with minimal Shubin,N.(2008).Yourinnerfish.Ajourneyintothe3.5billionyear
supervision,butwasalwaysavailabletoprovidegeneralad- historyofthehumanbody.NewYork:PantheonBooks.[InCzech:
Shubin,N.(2009).Rybavnás.PrahaaLitomyšl:Paseka.]
viceasneeded.Althoughmanyofhisstudentsworkedonfrog
FromGerman:
projects, others worked on topics as disparate as revising a
Beurlen,K.,&Lichter,G.(1986).Versteinerungen.München:Mosaik
fossilcoelacanthspeciesandreconstructingthespeechcapa- Verlag.[InCzech:Beurlen,K.,&Lichter,G.(1997).Zkameněliny.
bilitiesofNeanderthals.Manyofhisstudentswentontoca- Praha:IkaraKnižníklub.]
8Augé,M. L. (2005). Évolution des lézardsduPaléogèneenEurope.
reersinconservationandashighschoollecturers,withami-
MémoiresduMuséumnationald’Histoirenaturelle,192,1–369.
nority (including one of us, namely TP) having gone into 9AsaspecialissueofActaMuseiNationalisPragae,SeriesB—Historia
academia. Naturalis.
6 PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12
deservedretirementandlookforwardtoboththeresultsof YuanWang,LipingDongandSusanE.Evans:BPolydactyly
his ongoing research and the possibilities for future andotherlimbabnormalitiesintheJurassicsalamander
collaborations. CChhuunneerrppeettoonnfromChina^
Inoneofhisearlynaturalhistoryreports,Zbyněkdocumented
instances of additional digits among extant green frogs in
Summaryofpapersincludedwithinthisspecialissue Bohemia(Roček1974d).Anomalousoccurrencesofadditional
phalanges,digitsandevenlimbsnowarewell-known,butpuz-
TomášPřikryl,RostislavBrzobohatýandRůženaGregorová: zling,phenomenainsomeextantpopulationsoffrogsandsal-
BDiversityanddistributionoffossilcodlets(Teleostei, amanders. Yuan Wang and colleagues document the first in-
Gadiformes,Bregmacerotidae):reviewandcomments^ stances of these anomalies in the salamander fossil record, on
the basis of a mono-specific sample of exquisitely preserved
InthefirstcontributiontothisSpecialIssue,Zbyněk’sformer skeletonswith body outlinesfrom the Jurassic ofnortheastern
student,TomášPřikryl,andhispalaeoichthyologicalco-authors China.Theoccurrenceofsuchmalformationsintheseca.160
bringmuchneededclaritytothefossilrecordofcodlets.These million year old Chinese fossils suggests that developmental
are a family of small-sized, pelagic fish that currently have a processesresponsibleforthegrowthandregenerationofdigits
near-global distribution in warm marine waters and a modest andlimbs—regardlessofwhetherthosestructuresarenormalor
fossil record extending back into the Eocene. The authors re- malformed—have remained consistent throughout the evolu-
viewthefossilrecordandhistoryofworkoncodletsand,ina tionary history of salamanders. As further noted by Wang et
mannerreminiscentofmanyofZbyněk’sstudiesonfossilam- al.,recentpalaeontologicalanddevelopmentalstudiesbyother
phibians,theycombineevidencefromfossilspecimensaswell researchershaveraisedthepossibilitythattheabilitytoregen-
astheosteologyanddevelopmentoflivingcodletstorevisethe erate digits and appendages may be a primitive attribute for
taxonomyoffossilmembers.Přikryletal.acceptthe12nom- salamandersand,potentially,forTetrapodomorphaasawhole.
inalfossilspeciesknownonlybyotoliths,butforthefivefossil (Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1). doi:10.
speciespreviouslynamedonthebasisofbodyfossils,theylimit 1007/s12549-015-0219-7)
thenumberofdiagnosablespeciestojusttwo,bothwithinthe
genus Bregmaceros, and question whether a poorly known MártonVenczel,JamesD.Gardner,VladA.Codrea,Zoltán
monotypic species, Bregmacerina antiqua, can be retained Csiki-Sava,ŞtefanVasileandAlexandruA.Solomon:BNew
within the family. (Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeo- insightsintoEurope’smostdiverseLateCretaceousanuran
environments,96(1).doi:10.1007/s12549-015-0222-z) assemblagefromtheMaastrichtianofwesternRomania^
WhenZbyněkpublishedhiscomprehensivereviewoftheglob-
PavelP.Skutschas:BAnewcrown-groupsalamander alMesozoicanuranrecord(Roček2000a),whatwasknownfor
fromtheMiddleJurassicofWesternSiberia,Russia^ the Upper Cretaceous portion of that record in Europe was
largely confined to western portions of the continent.
ThetwodecadessinceZbyněk’sreviewoftheEuropeanfossil Beginning with discoveries in the mid-1980s, Maastrichtian
salamander record (Roček 1994c) have seen substantial im- sedimentarybasinsinwesternRomaniahavesteadilyyielded
provements in our understanding of the fossil record of that a growing number of isolated frog bones. On the basis of all
group,bothwithinEuropeandglobally.Aspartofhisongoing, previously published and newly available specimens, Márton
field- and laboratory-based research programme on the fossil Venczel and colleagues provide an up-to-date account of the
recordofsalamandersandothertetrapodsfromEurasia,Pavel latestCretaceousfrogassemblagefromRomania.Incontaining
Skutschasdescribesanewspeciesofcrown-cladesalamander three alytids, the oldest known bombinatorid, a possible
from a richly fossiliferous, Middle Jurassic quarry in Siberia. pelobatid and at least two indeterminate taxa, this is proving
Thisnewspeciesisoneoftheoldestknownsalamandersandit to be the most taxonomically diverse Late Cretaceous frog
extendsthefossilrecordofthegenusKiyatritonbacksome40 assemblagecurrentlyknownfromEurope.TheRomanianfrog
millionyearsfromitsonlypreviouslyknownoccurrenceinthe assemblage contains a mix of endemic and more widespread
Aptian–Albian of Siberia. The new Siberian salamander con- groups,andwhencomparedtootherLateCretaceousEuropean
tributestothemountingevidencethatstemandcrownsalaman- frog assemblages, it shows both similarities (e.g. preponder-
derswerecontemporaneousduringtheinitialportionsoftheir ance of alytids) and differences (e.g. lacks both the
knownrecordsandthatpresent-daySiberiaservedasarefuge palaeobatrachids from the Campanian–Maastrichtian of west-
forasuiteofJurassicaspectvertebratetaxawellintotheEarly ernEuropeandtheputativeneobatrachianfromtheSantonian
Cretaceous. (Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, of Hungary). (Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments,
96(1).doi:10.1007/s12549-015-0216-x) 96(1).doi:10.1007/s12549-015-0228-6)
PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12 7
AmyC.Henrici:BDiggingthroughthepast:theevolutionary early 21st century, when advances in computing power, the
historyofburrowingandundergroundfeeding adventofGISmappingandamoresophisticatedunderstand-
inrhinophrynidanurans^ ing ofthe factorsinfluencing species distributions havenow
madethose ‘ecologicalsuitability analyses’ feasibleand,ac-
Crediting Roček and Rage’s (2000c) review of the Tertiary cording to their proponents, a powerful tool for explaining
frog record as the inspiration for her contribution, Amy species distributions in the present, past and future. In their
Henrici details the palaeontologicalevidencefor the skeletal contribution,JorgeLoboandcolleaguesassesshowwellac-
novelties,specialisedlifestyleanddistributionoftheendemic tualdistributionaldataforQuaternary(bothextantandfossil)
North American Rhinophrynidae. Today, rhinophrynids are speciesoffrogsandsalamandersacrosstheIberianPeninsula
represented by a single species that is highly specialised for match predictions for their maximum potential distributions,
asubterraneanexistenceandisconfinedtotheextremesouth- asgeneratedfromasuiteofclimaticvariables.Theyfindthat
ernmost USA southwards into Central America. The family theactualandpredicteddistributionsaresimilarenoughthat,
hasamoreextensivefossilrecordinwesternNorthAmerica, with some caveats, fossil occurrences of at least Quaternary
where its geographic distribution extends northwards into amphibiantaxacanbeusedtoinferpastclimaticconditions.
southernmostCanadaanditstemporalrangeextendsbackto (Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1). doi:10.
the Palaeocene and, perhaps, even to the Late Jurassic. 1007/s12549-015-0224-x)
Utilising previously published and newly identified fossils,
combined with recent palaeoclimatic studies, Henrici traces StevenC.Sweetman:BAcomparisonofBarremian–early
the timing and appearance of osteological features linked to AptianvertebrateassemblagesfromtheJeholGroup,
the evolution of underground feeding and head-first north-eastChinaandtheWealdenGroup,southernBritain:
burrowinginthesebizarrefrogs,andsheproposesthatclimat- thevalueofmicrovertebratestudiesinadversepreservational
ic and environmental changes initiated during the late settings^
Palaeogene in western North America forced rhinophrynids
southwards. (Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, In terms of the number of fossils recovered, the diversity of
96(1).doi:10.1007/s12549-015-0215-y) taxonomic groupsknown andthe range ofbodysizesrepre-
sented,theWealdenGroupofsouthernBritainandtheJehol
Hugues-AlexandreBlain,MassimoDelfino,ClaudioBerto GroupofnortheasternChinaaretherichestdepositsforEarly
andMartaArzarello:BFirstrecordofPPeelloobbaatteessssyyrriiaaccuuss Cretaceous non-marine vertebrates in the world. Much of
(Anura,Amphibia)intheearlyPleistoceneofItaly^ whatweknowaboutthevertebraterecordforbothunits,es-
pecially for smaller sized taxa such as lissamphibians, has
OneofZbyněk’sfavouritefroggenera,Pelobates,isthesub- cometolightoverthepastfewdecadesthankstotheefforts
ject of the contribution by Hugues-Alexandre Blain and col- of a few, mostly English, palaeontologists working in the
leagues. These authors document a palaeobiogeographically Wealden and larger numbers of Chinese palaeontologists
unexpected record for P. syriacus, on the basis of isolated and their colleagues (including Zbyněk) working on Jehol
bonesrecoveredfromalowerPleistocenefissurefillinsouth- fossils.Drawingonhisextensive,first-handexperiencewith
easternItaly.Thatspeciesiscurrentlyrestrictedtotheeastern the Wealden and his contacts within the Chinese palae-
MediterraneanregionandtheMiddleEast.Blainetal.propose ontological community, Steve Sweetman is well posi-
thattheextralimitalpresenceofP.syriacusinItalyduringthe tioned to provide a review and comparison of the Wealden
early Pleistocene was the result of it having dispersed east- and Jehol vertebrate assemblages. The two assemblages are
wards during cooler intervals, when sea levels dropped and broadly similar in terms of which major groups are present,
suitable overland routes emerged across the Aegean Sea. whereasdifferencesarelikelyattributabletoacombinationof
(Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1). doi:10. geographicseparation,palaeoenvironmentalandtaphonomic
1007/s12549-015-0220-1) factors, and the more limited outcrop available for the
Wealden Group and lesser amount of research having been
JorgeM.Lobo,IñigoMartínez-SolanoandBorjaSanchiz:BA devoted to that unit. (Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeo-
reviewofthepalaeoclimaticinferencepotentialofIberian environments,96(1).doi:10.1007/s12549-015-0217-9)
Quaternaryfossilbatrachians^
JamesD.GardnerandJean-ClaudeRage:BThefossilrecord
One of the initial goals for Zbyněk’s Master’s project in the oflissamphibiansfromAfrica,Madagascar,andtheArabian
late 1960s was to assess whether the distribution maps he Plate^
generated for populations of the Alpine newt in the
CzechRepubliccouldbeexplainedintermsofgeographical, FossilfrogsofAfricaanditsadjacentregionshavelongbeen
climaticandotherenvironmentalfactors.Fastforwardtothe ofinteresttoZbyněk, beginning with the memorable trip he
8 PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12
made in 1977 with Prof. Špinar to collect Oligocene frog SelectedscientificpublicationsofZbyněkRoček
fossilsinLibya,andsubsequentlywithhiscollaborativerede-
scriptions of the Triassic stem frog Triadobatrachus from Thisabbreviatedlistincludesscientificpapers,importantpublishedconfer-
Madagascar (Rage and Roček 1986, 1989), his participation enceproceedings,books,bookchaptersandeditedvolumes.Exceptwhere
citedinthetext,otherpublications(conferenceabstracts,bookreviews,
inapairofconferencesheldin2002and2005inSouthAfrica
translations,andpopularandsemi-popularpublications)arenotincluded.
and,mostrecently,hiscollaborativestudyofdevelopmentin Foramoreextensivepublicationlist,seethe‘ScientificpapersbyZbyněk
pipoidfrogsthatutilisedCretaceousfossilsfromSouthAfrica Roček’ website maintained by the Institute of Geology of the Czech
andIsrael(RočekandVanDijk2006).Because of its com- AcademyofSciencesat:http://rocek.gli.cas.cz/Bibliography.htm.
plex palaeogeographic history, any consideration of
Africa’s lissamphibian record must include its associated
islands and the adjacent Arabian Plate portion of the 1968:
Roček, Z. (1968). Příspěvek k faunistice čolka horského (Triturus
Middle East. In the final contribution of this volume,
alpestris)vČechách.Živa,15,224.[Acontributiontothefaunistics
Jim Gardner and Zbyněk’s long-time friend and collab-
oftheAlpinenewt(Triturusalpestris)inBohemia]
orator, Jean-Claude Rage, present a comprehensive re-
view and commentary on the lissamphibian fossil record 1970:
from Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Plate. Asdoc- Roček, Z. (1970). Rozšíření čolka horského, Triturus alpestris
umented in their review, the region’s lissamphibian record is (Laurentius, 1768) v severovýchodních Čechách (with German
betterthangenerallyappreciated:fossilsareknownfromover summary). Acta Musei Reginaehradecensis Series A: Scientiae
Naturales, 11, 63–70. [The distribution of the Alpine newt,
90 sets of localities ranging in age from basal Triassic to
Triturusalpestris(Laurentius,1768)innorth-eastBohemia]
Holocene age, 20 named taxa are currently recognised and
Africa is one of only two continents (the other being North
1972:
America)havingrecordsforallfourlissamphibianclades(i.e. Roček,Z.(1972).Rozšířeníčolkahorského(TriturusalpestrisLaur.)v
frogs, salamanders, caecilians and albanerpetontids). severních Čechách (with German summary). Sborník
(Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1). doi: 10. SeveročeskéhoMusea,ScientiaeNaturales,4,45–52.[Distribution
1007/s12549-015-0221-0) oftheAlpineNewt(TriturusalpestrisLaur.)inthenorthBohemia]
1973:
Roček,Z.(1973).ObratlovciseverovýchodníchČech.Soupisliteratury
doroku1970.HradecKrálové:StátnívědeckáknihovnavHradci
Králové&KrajskémuzeumvHradciKrálové.[Vertebratesofthe
Acknowledgements The genesis of this article began with us
north-eastBohemia.Bibliographyuntil1970]
recountingthemanyanecdotesthatZbyněkRočekhadsharedwithus
overtheyearsabouthislifeandcareer.Wethenproceededtoimpose
heavily on Zbyněk’s generosity and patience by asking for extensive 1974:
autobiographicaldetailsandclarification,acompletelistofhispublica- Peška, R., Procházka, F., Režný, K., & Roček, Z. (1974). Průvodce
tionsandthetwophotographsincludedinthispaper—allofwhichhe naučnou stezkou okolím Deštného. Rychnov nad Kněžnou:
provided in his usual prompt and conscientious manner. Jean-Claude MuzeumOrlickýchhor.[Guidetotheeducationaltrailinthesur-
Rage (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France) critiqued roundingsofDeštné]
anearlierversionofthispaperandhelpedensureitsaccuracy.Weare Roček, Z. (1974a). Beitrag zur Erkennung der Neotenie des Alpen-
gratefultoMrs.MarieŠpinarová(Třebíč)forallowingustopublishthe molches Triturus alpestris (Laurenti, 1768). Věstník Česko-
photographinwhichherdeceasedhusband,Prof.Špinar,appearswith slovenskéspolečnostizoologické,38,285–294.
Zbyněk,andalsotoPavelLisý(InstituteofGeology,CAS,v.v.i.,Prague) Roček,Z.(1974b).BiometricalinvestigationsofcentralEuropeanpopu-
forhavingtakenthephotographofZbyněkinhislaboratory. lations of the Alpine newt, Triturus alpestris alpestris (Laurenti,
AssemblinganeditedcollectionofpaperslikethisSpecialIssue 1768) (Amphibia: Urodela). Acta Universitatis Carolinae—
relies on the efforts, goodwill and professionalism of many people. Biologica,1972,295–373.
Wethanktheauthorsoftheninepapersincludedinthisvolumefor Roček,Z.(1974c).Veränderungen derKörperproportionalitätwährend
their diverse contributions and the reviewers who provided con- des Wachstums im Populationsmuster des Wasserfrosches Rana
structive and prompt reviews of the submitted manuscripts. In the esculenta (Linnaeus, 1758) (Amphibia: Ranidae). Věstník
editorial office for Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, the Československéspolečnostizoologické,38,215–227.
Managing Editor Sinje Weber and the Editor-in-Chief Peter Roček, Z. (1974d). Polydaktylie u skokanů zelených. Akvárium a
Königshof enthusiastically endorsed our proposal, and then helped terrarium,17,28.[Polydactylyingreenfrogs]
us navigate through the many steps needed to produce the final Roček,Z.(1974e).NetopýřiOrlickýchhoraPodorlicka.Orlickéhory—
volume. We also appreciate the efforts of the production team at Podorlicko,6,53–67.[BatsoftheOrlickéMountainsandtheirfoothills]
Springer,whohelpedturnthetenmanuscriptsconstitutingthisFest-
schriftintoapolishedvolume.JDG’swife,JoanMarklund,endured
thefamiliarlonelinessofbeingan‘editorialwidow’duringthelatter 1976:
stages of this project. Smirina,E.,&Roček,Z.(1976).Onthepossibilityofusingannualbone
We offer this Special Issue of Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeo- layersofAlpinenewts,Triturusalpestris(Amphibia:Urodela),for
environmentsasatributetoourcolleague,mentorandfriend,Emeritus their age determination. Věstník Československé společnosti
ProfessorZbyněkRoček. zoologické,40,232–237.
PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12 9
1977: 1984:
Roček, Z. (1977a). Obojživelníci a plazi. In Z. Roček (Ed.), Příroda Roček,Z.(1984a).Lizards(Reptilia:Sauria)fromtheLowerMiocene
Orlických hor a Podorlicka (pp. 607–614). Praha: Státní locality Dolnice (Bohemia, Czechoslovakia). Rozpravy
zemědělskénakladatelství.[Amphibiansandreptiles.In:Natureof Československé akademievěd. Řada matematických a přírodních
theOrlickéMountainsandtheirfoothills] vědA,94,1–69.
Roček,Z.(1977b).OntheformTriturusalpestrislacusnigri(Seliškarand Roček,Z.(1984b).MacropelobatesosborniNoble,1924—redescription
Pehani,1935).BritishJournalofHerpetology,5,679–683. andreassignment.ActaUniversitatisCarolinae—Geologica,1982,
Roček, Z. (Ed.) (1977c). Příroda Orlických hor a Podorlicka. Praha: 421–438.
Státnízemědělskénakladatelství.[NatureoftheOrlickéMountains Špinar,Z.V.,&Roček,Z.(1984).Thediscoveryoftheimpressionofthe
andtheirfoothills] ventral side of Eopelobates anthracinus Parker, 1929 holotype.
Sklenář, J., & Roček, Z. (1977). Savci. In Z. Roček (Ed.), Příroda Amphibia-Reptilia,5,87–95.
Orlických hor a Podorlicka (pp. 635–647). Praha: Státní
zemědělské nakladatelství. [Mammals. In: Nature of the Orlické
1985:
Mountainsandtheirfoothills]
Młynarski, M.,& Roček, Z. (1985). Chelonians(Reptilia:Testudines)
from the Lower Miocene locality Dolnice (Bohemia,
1978:
Czechoslovakia).Časopispromineralogiiageologii,30,397–407.
Špinar,Z.V.,&Roček,Z.(1978).NewfindingsofTertiaryfaunainJabal Roček,Z.(1985a).Evoluceobratlovců.Praha:Academia.[Evolutionof
Hasáwnah(centralLibya).Second SymposiumontheGeology of vertebrates]
Libya,1978,59–60. Roček, Z. (1985b). Tooth replacement in Eusthenopteron and
Ichthyostega. In H.-R. Duncker & G. Fleischer (Eds.),
1979: Functional morphology in vertebrates. Fortschritte der
Roček,Z.(1979)ZazkamenělýmižábaminaSaharu.LidéaZemě,28, Zoologie, 30, 249–252.
356–360.[OnthesearchforfossilfrogsintheSaharaDesert]
Sklenář, J., & Roček, Z. (1979). Zoogeografie obojživelníků a plazů 1986:
východních Čech. Hradec Králové: Krajskémuzeum východních Rage,J.-C.,&Roček,Z.(1986).Triadobatrachusrevisited.InZ.Roček
Čech. [Zoogeography of amphibians and reptiles of eastern
(Ed.), Studies in herpetology. Proceedings of the European
Bohemia] HerpetologicalMeetings,Prague1985(pp.255–258).Karolinum:
Praha.
1980: Roček, Z. (1986a). An ‘intracranial joint’ in frogs. In Z. Roček (Ed.),
Moody,S.,&Roček,Z.(1980).Chamaeleocaroliquarti(Chamaeleonidae, Studiesinherpetology.ProceedingsoftheEuropeanHerpetological
Meetings,Prague1985(pp.49–54).Karolinum:Praha.
Sauria):anewspeciesfromtheLowerMioceneofcentralEurope.
VěstníkÚstředníhoústavugeologického,55,85–92. Roček,Z.(editor)(1986b).Studies in herpetology. Proceedings ofthe
Roček,Z.(1980a).Intraspecificandontogeneticvariationofthedentition European Herpetological Meetings, Prague 1985. Praha:
in the Green Lizard Lacerta viridis (Reptilia, Squamata). Věstník Karolinum.
Československéspolečnostizoologické,44,272–277.
Roček, Z. (1980b). The dentition of the European Glass Lizard 1987:
Ophisaurus apodus (Pallas, 1775) (Reptilia, Sauria: Angui- Buchar,J.,Drobník,J.,Hadač,E.,Janko,J.,Květ,J.,Lellák,J.,&Roček,
dae), with notes on the pattern of tooth replacement. Z.(1987).Život.Praha:Mladáfronta.[Storyoflife]
Amphibia-Reptilia,1,19–27.
Roček, Z. (1987). Some features of the skull ontogeny in frogs
Roček,Z.(1980c).AcontributiontothesystematicsofEuropeanranidfrogs
(Amphibia,Anura)andtheirimportanceforrecognizingtheevolu-
(Amphibia,Ranidae)onthebasisoftheincrassatiofrontoparietalis.
tion of this group. In V. Pokorný (Ed.), Contribution of
VěstníkČeskoslovenskéspolečnostizoologické,44,219–229.
Czechoslovak palaeontology to evolutionary science 1945–1985
(pp.89–96).Praha:Karolinum.
1981:
Roček, Z. (1981). Cranial anatomy offrogs of the family Pelobatidae 1988:
Stannius,1856,withoutlinesoftheirphylogenyandsystematics.
ActaUniversitatisCarolinae—Biologica,1980(1–2),1–164. Fejfar,O.,&Roček,Z.(1988).TheLowerMiocenevertebratefaunaof
Dolnice, Cheb basin (Western Bohemia, Czechoslovakia). Acta
UniversitatisCarolinae—Geologica,1986,233–249.
1982: Roček,Z.(1988a).Originandevolutionofthefrontoparietalcomplexin
Böhme,W.,Roček,Z.,&Špinar,Z.V.(1982).OnPelobatesdecheni anurans.Amphibia-Reptilia,9,385–403.
Troschel, 1861, and Zaphrissa eurypelis Cope, 1866 (Amphibia: Roček, Z. (1988b).List offossil amphibians of Czechoslovakia. Acta
Salientia:Pelobatidae)fromtheearlyMioceneofRottnearBonn, ZoologicaCracoviensia,31,513–540.
WestGermany.JournalofVertebratePaleontology,2,1–7.
Jarošová,J.,&Roček,Z.(1982).Theincrassatiofrontoparietalisin 1989:
frogs, its origin and phylogenetic significance. Amphibia-
Reptilia,3,111–124. Rage, J.-C., & Roček, Z. (1989). Redescription of Triadobatrachus
massinoti (Piveteau, 1936) an anuran amphibian from the early
Triassic.PalaeontographicaAbteilungA,206,1–16.
1983: Roček, Z. (1989). Developmental patterns of the ethmoidal region
Rage, J.-C., & Roček, Z. (1983). Dolniceophis lehmani (Serpentes, of the anuran skull. In H. Splechtna & H. Hilgers (Eds.),
Colubridae), a new fossil snake from the Lower Miocene of Trends in vertebrate morphology. Fortschritte der Zoologie,
Czechoslovakia.Časopispromineralogiiageologii,28,17–21. 35, 412–415.
10 PalaeobioPalaeoenv(2016)96:1–12
Roček,Z.,&Veselý,M.(1989).Developmentoftheethmoidalstructures Roček,Z.(1996b).ThesalamanderBrachycormusnoachicusfromthe
oftheendocraniumintheanuranPipapipa.JournalofMorphology, OligoceneofEurope, andtherole ofneotenyintheevolutionof
200,301–319. salamanders.Palaeontology,39,477–495.
Roček,Z.(1996c).Evoluceneotenií(zhistorienašichčolků).Vesmír,75,
72–75.[Evolutionbymeansofneoteny(fromhistoryofnewts)]
1990:
Roček, Z. (1996d). Heterochrony: response of Amphibia to cooling
Roček, Z. (1990). Ethmoidal endocranial structures in primitive tetra- events.Geolines,3,55–58.
pods:Theirbearingonthesearchforanuranancestry.Zoological Sanchiz,B.,&Roček,Z.(1996).Anoverviewoftheanuranfossilrecord.
JournaloftheLinneanSociety,99,389–407.
InR.C.Tinsley&H.R.Kobel(Eds.),ThebiologyofXenopus.The
symposium of the Zoological Society of London (pp. 317–328).
1991: London:ZoologicalSocietyofLondon.
Roček,Z.(1991).EthmoidalendocraniuminprimitiveTriassicamphib-
ians.PaläontologischeZeitschrift,65,351–361. 1997:
Roček,Z.(1997a).Neotenyandpaedomorphosisasevolutionaryfactors
1992: inTertiaryAmphibia.JournalofMorphology,232,315.
Roček, Z. (1992a). Triturus alpestris. In V. Baruš & O. Oliva (Eds.), Roček, Z. (1997b). Origin of species: An example, the European
Fauna Československa—Amphibia (pp. 127–132). Praha: salamandrid Triturus. InZ. Roček& S.Hart (Eds.), Herpetology
Academia. ’97.AbstractsoftheThirdWorldCongressofHerpetology,Prague
Roček, Z. (1992b). Pelobates fuscus. In V. Baruš & O. Oliva (Eds.), 1997(p.175).Praha:WorldCongressofHerpetology,1997.
Fauna Československa—Amphibia (pp. 152–157). Praha: Roček,Z.(1997c).ThesalamandridamphibianChelotriton(Amphibia:
Academia. Salamandridae)andrelatedformsfromtheTertiaryofEurope.InZ.
Roček & S. Hart(Eds.), Herpetology ’97. Abstracts ofthe Third
World Congress of Herpetology, Prague 1997 (p. 175). Praha:
1993:
WorldCongressofHerpetology,1997.
Roček,Z.(1993a).PalatoquadrateinaDevonianfishEusthenopteron. Roček,Z.(1997d).FossilamphibiansandreptilesoftheCzechRepublic.
Evidence of its dual fish origin. Zeitschrift für zoologische InP.Nečas,D.Modrý&V.Zavadil(Eds.)Czechrecentandfossil
SystematikundEvolutionsforschung,31,38–46. amphibians and reptiles. An atlas and field guide (pp. 15–19).
Roček,Z.(1993b).Originandevolutionoftheanuranpostnasalwalland Frankfurta.M.:EditionChimaira.
adjacentpartsofthepalatoquadrate.EthologyEcology&Evolution, Roček,Z.,&Hart,S.(Eds.)(1997).Herpetology’97.Abstractsofthe
5,247–265. ThirdWorldCongressofHerpetology,Prague1997.Praha:World
Roček, Z., & Nessov, L. A. (1993). Cretaceous anurans from Central CongressofHerpetology,1997.
Asia.PalaeontographicaAbteilungA,226,1–54.
1998:
1994: Roček,Z.(1998a).DerMesselerSalamander.InW.vonKoenigswald&
Roček,Z.(1994a).HoloceneanuransfromCaucasus.AsiaticHerpeto- G.Storch(Eds.),Messel,EinPompejiderPaläontologie(pp.58–
logicalResearch,5,31–44. 59).Sigmaringen:JanThorbeckeVerlag.
Roček,Z.(1994b).TaxonomyanddistributionofTertiarydiscoglossids Roček,Z.(1998b).StammesgeschichteundEvolution.InR.Hofrichter
(Anura)ofthegenusLatoniav.Meyer,1843.Geobios,27,717– (Ed.),Amphibien.Evolution,Anatomie,Physiologie,Ökologieund
751. Verbreitung,Verhalten,BedrohungundSchutz(pp.20–31).Natur
Roček,Z.(1994c).ReviewoffossilCaudataofEurope.Abhandlungen BuchVerlag:Augsburg.
und Berichte des Museums für Naturkunde und Vorgeschichte, Roček, Z. (1998). Developmental story of the anuran skull:
Magdeburg,17,51–56. does it provide any phylogenetic information? In C.
Roček,Z.(1994d).Wolterstorff’scontributiontostudyoffossilanurans. Miaud & R. Guyetant (Eds.), Current studies in herpe-
Abhandlungen und Berichte des Museums für Naturkunde und tology (pp. 35–50). Le Bourget du Lac: Societas Euro-
Vorgeschichte,Magdeburg,17,39–43. paea Herpetologica.
Roček, Z., & Rage, J.-C. (1994). The presumed amphibian footprint
NotopuspetrifromtheDevonian:aprobablestarfishtracefossil. 1999:
Lethaia,27,241–244.
Roček,Z.(1999).UnesalamandredeMessel.InW.vonKoenigswald&
G.Storch (Eds.), Messel. LaMémoire de la Nature (pp. 58–59).
1995:
Paris:Seuil.
Roček,Z.(1995).AnewspecimenofEopelobates(Anura:Pelobatidae)
from the Tertiary near Bonn (Germany) and the problem of E. 2000:
anthracinus–E. bayeri relations. Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 69,
283–287. Roček, Z. (2000a). Mesozoic Anurans. In H. Heatwole & R.
Roček,Z.,&Lamaud,P.(1995).FurtherdataonThaumastosaurusbottii L. Carroll (Eds.), Amphibian biology, vol. 4, palaeon-
tology (pp. 1297–1333). Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty
DeStefano,1903,ananuran(Leptodactylidae)fromtheEoceneof
Europe.JournalofVertebratePaleontology,15,506–515. & Sons.
Roček, Z. (2000b). Phylogeny and evolution. In R. Hofrichter (Ed.),
Amphibians(pp.20–31).FireflyBooks(U.S.)Inc.andKanPorter
1996:
Books,Canada.
Roček, Z. (1996a). Skull of the neotenous salamandrid amphibian Roček,Z.,&Rage,J.-C.(2000a).Anatomicaltransformationsinthe
Triturus alpestris and abbreviated developments in the Tertiary transition from temnospondyl to proanuran stages. In H.
Salamandridae.JournalofMorphology,230,187–197. Heatwole & R. L. Carroll (Eds.), Amphibian biology, vol. 4,