bibliography: Marushchak, O., O. Muravynets. 2018. Morphological abnormalities in tailless amphibians (Amphibia, Anura) in Ukraine. Geo&Bio. Vol. 16: 76-82.

doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/gb.2018.16.076

author(s): Marushchak, O. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9380-5593,
O. Muravynets https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8375-075X

affiliation: I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine)

address: O. Marushchak; I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, NAS of Ukraine, Bohdan Khmelnytsky St. 15, Kyiv, 01030 Ukraine; e-mail: vse_okei@bigmir.net

title: Morphological abnormalities in tailless amphibians (Amphibia, Anura) in Ukraine

summary: The present work deals with external morphological anomalies in anuran populations from Ukraine. The work is based on materials collected in 2013–2015, and on specimens from the stock collection of the National Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine (85 specimens from 21 regions). The corresponding maps of Ukraine showing locations with different levels of abnormality were created. Among anurans from Ukraine, a large number of external morphological abnormali-ties, described in the latest classifications, was discovered. The total percentage of amphibians with anomalies tends to be higher in areas with significant industrial pressure (e.g., Luhansk and Donetsk regions) that could be associated with the combined impact of chemical pollutants, range contrac-tion and fragmentation, and other factors. In addition, several cases of widespread anomalies were found in areas without notable industrial impact (e.g., Zakarpattia). The highest range of malfor-mations was discovered in common toads from the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv city. A tendency of prevailing of anomalies of traumatic origin was observed as well.

keywords: morphological abnormalities, tailless amphibians, Ukraine, environmental pollution, bioindication.

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