ABSTRAcr. The histological structure of the alimentary tract of the snake Coluber florulentus was described and compared with that of other examined reptiles. The wall of the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine is built up of the following layers from outside inwards; serosa, muscularis, submucosa and mucosa, while in the wall of the stomach there is a new layer, subserosa which follows serosa. The oesophageal mucosa consists of simple columnar ciliated epithelial and goblet cells. The oesophageal glands were found to be completely absent. The gastric mucosa consists of simple columnar cells. There are two types of gastric glands. These are the fundic and pyloric glands (granular and light-celled types). The mucosa of the small intestine consists of three types of cells; the absorptive, the goblet and the endocrine cells. The intestinal glands as well as crypts of Lieberkhun are absent. The caecal mucosa consists of simple columnar epithelial and goblet cells. The mucosal epithelium of the colon consists of three types of cells; simple columnar, goblet and endocrine cells. The rectal mucosa is only represented by simple columnar epithelial cells.
The origin and the fate of the cranial ribs in three birds; Streptopelia senegalensis aegyptiaca, Pterocles alchata caudacutus and Passer domesticus niloticus, have been described.
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