CLEFT PALATE, MICROPHTHALMIA AND OTHER MALFORMATIONS IN EMBRYOS OF LIZARDS AND SNAKES

Six embryos of the eyed lizard ( Lacerta lepida ) with malformations such as short upper jaw, microphthalmia, abnormal fore-brain, cleft palate, absence or deficiency of the pituitary and tail defects are described. Embryos of the common lizard ( Lacerta vivipara ) and adder ( Vipera berus ) with microphthalmia and cleft palate, and of a sand lizard ( Lacerta agilis ) showing partial Siamese twinning are also reported. The aetiology of these malformations, and the well-known occurrence of similar conditions in birds and mammals, is discussed.