Morphological abnormalities in anurans from southern Brazil

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, the progressive decline in populations of anuran amphibians has left many species increasingly vulnerable to extinction. The potential role of morphological abnormalities as a mechanism of this decline has attracted attention in many recent studies. We investigated the occurrence and frequency of morphological abnormalities in anurans from northern of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We sampled 1674 individuals from three different environments – forest, farmland and peri‐urban areas – between 2001 and 2017. We recorded 89 individuals with morphological abnormalities, with 12 different types of abnormality in 19 anuran species. We recorded nine types of abnormality in forest and seven in the farmland, with brachydactyly being the most common abnormality in both areas. Only three abnormalities were recorded in the peri‐urban area, and all three were equally frequent. Studies of morphological alterations provide important insights into the potential effects of environmental impacts on anuran populations and may be essential for the planning of effective conservation strategies.