Morphological Abnormalities in Amphibian Populations from the Mid-Eastern Region of Argentina

PELTZER, PAOLA MARIELA; LAJMANOVICH, RAFAEL CARLOS; SANCHEZ, LAURA CECILIA; ATTADEMO, ANDRÉS MAXIMILIANO; JUNGES, CELINA M.; BIONDA, CLARISA L.; MARTINO, ADOLFO L.; BASSÓ, AGUSTÍN

Herpetological Conservation and Biology

Herpetological Conservation and Biology

Año: 2011 vol. 6 p. 432 - 442

1931-7603

We present the first compilation and analysis of cases of morphologically abnormal anurans from the mideastern region of Argentina (Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Entre Ríos Provinces). We sampled for abnormal individuals at 51 sites in agricultural, suburban, and forest settings between January 2000 and December 2009. We recorded 71 abnormal individuals, including 16 types of abnormalities in 15 anuran species. In agricultural sites, we found 12 types of abnormalities, with ectromelia being the most abundant. In suburban sites, we recorded seven types of abnormalities, with brachygnathia and ectromelia being the most common. In forest sites, we found three types of abnormalities, with ectromelia again being the most abundant. This study is the first catalog of anurans with morphological abnormalities in Argentina, thus expanding the geographic range of observed abnormalities in amphibians and illustrating the ubiquity of this phenomenon.