Abstract
Extreme sensitivity and relatively rapid reaction to environmental changes makes amphibians suitable bioindicators of environmental health. Chemical contaminants, developmental disruptors, ultraviolet radiation, parasitic and viral infections, intrinsic developmental constraints are common factors causing malformations of individuals. In the period October 2017 – February 2018 we investigated fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) wintering in underground roosts in Slovakia, Europe. Individuals were measured (SVL, snout-vent length; TBL, total body length), weighed and underwent ophthalmic examination, including tonometry. From 80 individuals, three salamanders with malformations were observed. The deformities recorded were a skin deformity in the lumbar region of one individual, unilateral microphthalmia and syndactyly of the right forelimb. Two of these deformities were detected during one inspection of the artificial gallery. In this paper we also mention incidence of deformities during our several years of research on fire salamanders in Slovakia.
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