Abstract
Over the course of his nearly five decades long career, the Czech herpetologist and palaeontologist Zbyněk Roček has become well known for his research on lower vertebrates, especially on the origins, anatomy, functional morphology, development, ecology, systematics and fossil record of frogs. Zbyněk has also been a teacher and supervisor, a generous mentor and a valued colleague for several generations of students and researchers.
In recognition of Zbyněk Roček's many academic contributions and on the twin occasions in 2015 of his being appointed Emeritus Professor at the Czech Academy of Sciences and his 70th birthday, here, we (1) provide a biographical sketch and commentary on his academic contributions and (2) present a collection of papers by some of Zbyněk's colleagues that echo many of the themes and topics of his research programme.