A Global Database of Anomalies in Natural Populations, with an Illustration of Emerging Patterns Focussing on Countries of the Former Soviet Union

Abstract

The literature on anomalies from natural populations of amphibians is enormous but widely dispersed and difficult to access. To fill the gap I compiled a global database that covers all extant and fossil amphibian species for which anomalies have been reported. The database focuses on externally visible anomalies. The database is an EXCEL file that provides data on: species, anomalies observed, class of anomalies, sample size, number of abnormal individuals, percentage of abnormal individuals, developmental stage, cause, year of observation, meadian year, country, location, remarks, and data sources. Using the territory of the former Soviet Union as example we illustrate the publication history, the percentage of urodelan and anuran species of the fauna for which anomalies have been reported, the number of cases reported for the different countries, and the frequency distribution of the number of abnormal individuals.