Vertebral Anomalies in Common goby Pomatoschistus microps (Gobiidae) Collected from Localities Around the British Isles

Abstract

Several incidences of skeletal deformities, ranging from 0.83 to 11.18%, were observed in specimens of common goby Pomatoschistus microps collected from 11 shore localities around the British Isles during the period November 1975–July 1977. There is a large variation in the percentage of vertebral abnormalities among the individuals of P. microps across the localities. It is important to document the vertebral anomalies in P. microps from the British Isles, because no such report has been published, although the observations date back 40 years. The possible role of pollution in the localities studied is discussed.