Advances in Environmental Monitoring and Ecosystem Health: Suggestions for the Proper Reporting of Anomalies in Amphibians

Amphibians, as sensitive bioindicators, reflect environmental health issues that also impact human communities through shared pathways, including contaminated water and agricultural products. This perspective addresses the need to standardize the reporting of anomalies (defined as significant phenotypic deviations from typical morphology, structure, or coloration) in amphibians in Mexico, where inconsistent terminology and incomplete data limit their utility for environmental monitoring. We propose a framework that includes a classification of anomalies (structural and chromatic) and a field-based physical examination protocol to systematically document these cases. The approach integrates detailed guidelines to ensure comprehensive reporting and data comparability, addressing geographic and taxonomic biases. Recent findings highlight that over 50% of anomaly reports in Mexico are incidental, with predominant cases in Ambystomatidae, Hylidae, and Ranidae, and linked to anthropogenic pressures such as agrochemicals. The framework promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, citizen science, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence for sustainable monitoring. By standardizing the detection and reporting of anomalies, this proposal strengthens the role of amphibians as sentinels of ecosystem health, with applications in Mexico and other regions facing high environmental degradation.