Effekten av selektiv hogst på viltpopulasjoner i Amazonas

Selective logging of tropical forests is rapidly expanding, making it inevitable that future tropical landscapes will be dominated by production forests. Any biodiversity conservation strategy must consider the potential and limitations of these forests for conservation. This thesis investigates the prospects of wildlife conservation in forest landscapes subjected to contrasting logging regimes in the Brazilian Amazon. Data comes from two case studies representing legally and illegally logged landscapes: Jamari National Forest, where forest concessions operate under reduced-impact logging (RIL), and Gurupi Biological Reserve, which was illegaly logged for several decades until very recently. Manuscript 1 uses camera traps to investigate RIL effects on the medium- to large-sized mammal assemblage in Jamari. Site-level species richness was negatively related to logging intensity, and positively related to density of logging roads. However, no individual species responded significantly to these factors and all species were retained in the landscape, suggesting that RIL may be a reasonable compromise between production and conservation. Manuscript 2 uses camera traps to assess effects of past illegal logging on the assemblage of medium- to large-sized mammals and birds in Gurupi. Illegal logging had a negligible effect on species relative abundances, suggesting that even illegally logged forests retain conservation value, provided they are protected from further impacts. Manuscript 3 uses a five-year camera-trap monitoring data to assess the status and trends of a Critically Endangered bird, the Black-winged Trumpeter (Psophia obscura), at Gurupi. Results show that the species is a habitat specialist that prefers areas with more than a decade of post-logging recovery and with a structure like mature forest. In addition, occupancy rates of the species remained stable throughout the study, demonstrating that even illegally logged forests can play a role in the conservation of this forest specialists. The fourth and final chapter uses data from forest inventories conducted by concession companies to estimate losses of animal-dispersed trees resulting from direct harvest in Jamari RIL concessions. Animal-dispersed trees dominate the forest but are significantly less targeted for logging than abiotically-dispersed trees. Still, at least ten percent of the large animal-dispersed trees were lost in the landscape, indicating that even low logging intensities can reduce frugivore resources. Taken together, the results indicate that although both legal and illegal harvesting have impacts on medium- to large-sized vertebrates, these are generally moderate so that logged forest landscapes retain their full species complement. However, the case studies are best-case scenarios coming from protected areas, which underlines the importance of protecting logged forests from additional anthropogenic impacts to maintain their conservation value.Selektiv hogst av tropiske skoger utvides raskt, noe som gjør det uunngåelig at fremtidige tropiske landskap vil bli dominert av produksjonsskog. Enhver strategi for bevaring av biologisk mangfold må ta hensyn til potensialet og begrensningene til disse skogene. Denne oppgaven undersøker utsiktene for bevaring av dyreliv i skoglandskap utsatt for kontrasterende hogstregimer i den brasilianske Amazonas. Data kommer fra to case-studier som representerer landskap med lovlig og ulovlig tømmerhogst: Jamari National Forest, hvor skogkonsesjoner opererer under bærekraftig tømmerhogst, og Gurupi Biological Reserve, som ble ulovlig hugget i flere tiår inntil helt nylig. Manuskript 1 bruker kamerafeller for å undersøke effekter av bærekraftig hogst på mellomstore til store pattedyr i Jamari. Artsrikdom på stedsnivå var negativt relatert til hogstintensitet, og positivt relatert til veitetthet. Imidlertid reagerte ingen individuelle arter signifikant på de samme faktorene, og alle arter ble beholdt i landskapet, noe som tyder på at bærekraftig tømmerhogst kan være et rimelig kompromiss mellom produksjon og bevaring. Manuskript 2 bruker kamerafeller for å vurdere effekten av tidligere ulovlig hogst på mellomstore og store pattedyr og fugler i Gurupi. Ulovlig hogst hadde en ubetydelig effekt på artssamfunnet og arters relative abundans, noe som tyder på at selv ulovlig hogst beholder sin bevaringsverdi, forutsatt at de er beskyttet mot ytterligere påvirkninger. Manuskript 3 bruker en femårig kamerafelle-studie for å vurdere statusen og trendene til en kritisk truet fugl, den svartvingede trompetisten (Psophia obscura), i Gurupi. Resultatene bekrefter at arten er en habitatspesialist som foretrekker områder der gjenveksten har kommet lengst etter hogst og som har en struktur som moden skog. I tillegg forble arten stabil gjennom hele studien, noe som viser at til og med ulovlig hogd skog kan spille en rolle i bevaringen av denne skogspesialisten. Det fjerde og siste kapittelet bruker data fra skogregistreringer utført av tømmerhogstselskaper for å estimere tap av trær som har frukt og frø spredt av dyr, som følge av tømmerhogst i Jamari. Trær som har frø spredt av dyr dominerer skogen, men er betydelig mindre utsatt for hogst enn trær som har frø som blir spredt abiotisk. Likevel gikk minst ti prosent av de store dyrespredte trærne tapt i landskapet, noe som indikerer at selv lave hogstintensiteter kan redusere frukt-ressursene. Samlet indikerer resultatene at selv om både lovlig og ulovlig tømmerhogst har innvirkning på middels til store virveldyr, er disse generelt moderate slik at skoglandskapet beholder sitt fulle artskomplement. Case-studiene er imidlertid best-case-scenarier som kommer fra verneområder, noe som understreker viktigheten av å beskytte hugget skog mot ytterligere menneskeskapte påvirkninger for å opprettholde deres bevaringsverdi.Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade - ICMBio; Programa Áreas Protegidas da Amazônia - ARPApublishedVersio

Diagnóstico sobre participação e dificuldades de remuneração de monitores comunitários do Programa Monitora na Amazônia Brasileira

The involvement of traditional/local populations residing in or close to conservation units (CUs) is a principle of the Monitora Program, a national biodiversity monitoring initiative, but depends on appropriate remuneration. The Amazon Protected Areas Program (Arpa), Monitora's largest financier, has a robust and innovative arrangement, but has financial modalities that hampers execution of resources by managers, for example the lack of an appropriate payment mechanism for community monitors in the CUs of Terra do Meio (Altamira, Pará, Brazil). To characterize the monitors and qualify whether the difficulties encountered in the region are shared by other Amazon CUs implementing Monitora, we made a diagnosis based on the managers' knowledge. We sent a questionnaire with questions about financial resources, profile of monitors, payment methods for community monitors and challenges in making payments, which was answered by managers from 94% of the Amazonian federal CUs implementing Monitora. The diagnosis revealed that community members represent more than half of the monitors for 38% of CUs. For 81% of CUs, monitors receive social benefits, which can be suspended because of contracting with "autônomo" service (mechanism recommended for payments via Arpa). Managers reported disadvantages of this mechanism, with 58% of CUs reporting difficulty in making payments. Managers of 67% of CUs consider that Monitora's viability could be compromised due to the challenges in paying community monitors. These results must be used to seek solutions, such as assistance or grants to pay monitors, thus preventing an operational aspect from compromising the execution of Monitora Program.La participación de poblaciones tradicionales/locales residentes cerca o adentro de unidades de conservación (UCs) es un principio del Programa Monitora, una iniciativa nacional de monitoreo de la biodiversidad, pero depende de remuneración adecuada. El Programa Áreas Protegidas da Amazonia (Arpa), el mayor financista de Monitora, tiene una estructura robusta y innovadora, pero tiene modalidades financieras que dificultan la ejecución de los recursos por los administradores, por ejemplo, falta un mecanismo de pago adecuado para los monitores comunitarios en las UCs de Terra do Meio (Altamira/PA, Brasil). Para caracterizar a los monitores y calificar si las dificultades encontradas son compartidas por otras UCs amazónicas que implementan Monitora, realizamos un diagnóstico. Enviamos un cuestionario con preguntas sobre recursos financieros, perfil de los monitores, métodos y desafíos para realizar los pagos, el cual fue respondido por administradores del 94% de las UCs federales amazónicas que implementan Monitora. Monitores comunitarios representan más de la mitad de los monitores en 38% de las UCs. Para el 81% de las UCs, los monitores reciben beneficios sociales, que pueden ser suspendidos por contratación como autónomos (mecanismo recomendado para pagos vía Arpa). Administradores reportaron desventajas del mecanismo y para 58% de las UCs informaron dificultades para realizar los pagos. Administradores del 67% de las UCs consideran que la viabilidad de Monitora podría verse comprometida debido a los desafíos para pagar a los monitores comunitarios. Esos resultados deben subvencionar soluciones, como asistencia o beca de investigación para pagar a los monitores, evitando que un aspecto operativo comprometa el Monitora.O envolvimento de populações tradicionais/locais residentes ou próximas de unidades de conservação (UCs) é um princípio do Programa Monitora, iniciativa nacional de monitoramento da biodiversidade, mas depende de remuneração apropriada. O Programa Áreas Protegidas da Amazônia (Arpa), maior financiador do Monitora, tem arranjo robusto e inovador, porém possui modalidades de execução financeira que dificultam a operacionalização pelos gestores, como a falta de mecanismo apropriado de pagamento de monitores comunitários nas UCs da Terra do Meio (Altamira, Pará). Para caracterizar os monitores e qualificar se as dificuldades encontradas na região são compartilhadas por outras UCs amazônicas implementando o Monitora, realizou-se um diagnóstico baseado no conhecimento dos gestores. Enviamos um questionário sobre recursos financeiros, perfil dos monitores, formas de pagamento dos comunitários e desafios na realização de pagamentos, que foi respondido por gestores de 94% das UCs federais amazônicas executando o Monitora. O diagnóstico revelou que comunitários representam mais da metade dos monitores para 38% das UCs. Para 81% das UCs foi reportado recebimento de benefícios sociais pelos monitores, que podem ser suspensos após contratação pontual com serviço de autônomo (indicado para pagamentos via Arpa). Os gestores relataram desvantagens desse mecanismo, sendo que para 58% das UCs foi reportada dificuldade de realizar pagamentos. Gestores de 67% das UCs consideram que a viabilidade do Monitora pode ser comprometida devido à dificuldade de pagamento dos comunitários. Esses resultados devem ser usados para buscar soluções, como auxílio ou bolsa para remunerar monitores, e auxiliar para que um aspecto operacional não comprometa a execução do Monitora

Tendências populacionais de vertebrados de médio e grande porte em áreas protegidas da Amazônia brasileira

The current biodiversity crisis has generated a growing demand for information on the status and trends of biodiversity, especially in mega diverse regions such as the tropics, where comprehensive data is lacking. In view of this, the Brazilian government developed the Brazilian in situ monitoring program of Federal Protected Areas – Programa Monitora, a long-term program aimed at monitoring the state of biodiversity and ecosystem services in federal protected areas (PAs). In this study, we used a nine-year monitoring time series (2014-2022) from 22 PAs in the Amazon to assess trends in 167 populations of medium- to large-sized terrestrial birds and mammals, as well as aggregate biodiversity trends, using the geometric mean of the relative abundances as a biodiversity index. We found stability, decline and increase for 92%, 6.5 and 0.6% of the analyzed populations, respectively. We did not find differences between the population growth rates of birds and mammals, or between populations located in strictly protected and sustainable use PAs. The geometric mean of relative abundances remained stable over the sampled period. The results suggest that, in general, the monitored PAs have been effective for the conservation of the program's target populations, although some populations have suffered significant declines, which raises an alert. In the near future, the time series will become longer and longer and more and more PAs and populations will become eligible for analysis. Therefore, the continuity of the program is essential to ensure more robust results.La actual crisis de biodiversidad ha generado una creciente demanda de información sobre el estado y las tendencias de la biodiversidad, especialmente en regiones megadiversas como los trópicos, donde hay falta de datos. En vista de esto, el gobierno brasileño desarrolló el Programa Nacional de Monitoreo de la Biodiversidad – Programa Monitor, un programa de largo plazo destinado a monitorear el estado de la biodiversidad y los servicios ecosistémicos en las unidades de conservación (UCs) federales. En este estudio, utilizamos una serie temporal de nueve años (2014-2022) de datos de 22 UC en Amazonía brasileña para evaluar tendencias en 167 poblaciones de aves y mamíferos terrestres de tamaño mediano y grande, así como tendencias agregadas en biodiversidad, utilizando la media geométrica de las abundancias relativas de estas poblaciones como índice de biodiversidad. Encontramos estabilidad, disminución y aumento para el 92%, 6.5% y 0.6% de las poblaciones analizadas, respectivamente. No encontramos diferencias entre las tasas de crecimiento poblacional de aves y mamíferos, ni entre poblaciones ubicadas en UCs de estricta protección y uso sustentable. La media geométrica de las abundancias relativas se mantuvo estable durante el período muestreado. Los resultados sugieren que, en general, las UCs monitoreadas han sido efectivas para la conservación de las poblaciones objetivo del programa, aunque algunas poblaciones han sufrido disminuciones importantes, lo que genera alerta. En un futuro próximo, las series temporales serán cada vez más largas y cada vez más UCs y poblaciones serán elegibles para el análisis. Por lo tanto, la continuidad del programa es esencial para garantizar resultados más sólidos.A atual crise de biodiversidade tem gerado uma demanda crescente por informações sobre o estado e as tendências da biodiversidade, especialmente em regiões megadiversas como os trópicos, onde há carência de dados. Diante disso, o governo brasileiro desenvolveu o Programa Nacional de Monitoramento da Biodiversidade – Programa Monitora, programa de longa duração voltado ao monitoramento do estado da biodiversidade e serviços ecossistêmicos em unidades de conservação (UCs) federais. Neste estudo, utilizamos uma série temporal de nove anos (2014-2022) de monitoramento em 22 UCs da Amazônia para avaliar as tendências de 167 populações de aves e mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte, bem como as tendências agregadas da biodiversidade, utilizando a média geométrica das abundâncias relativas destas populações como índice de biodiversidade. Encontramos estabilidade, declínio e aumento para 92%, 6,5% e 0,6% das populações analisadas, respectivamente. Não encontramos diferenças entre as taxas de crescimento populacional de aves e mamíferos, ou entre populações localizadas em UCs de proteção integral e de uso sustentável. A média geométrica das abundâncias relativas permaneceu estável no período amostrado. Os resultados sugerem que, em geral, as UCs monitoradas têm sido efetivas para a conservação das populações-alvo do programa, embora algumas populações tenham sofrido declínios significativos, o que levanta um alerta. Num futuro próximo, as séries temporais se tornarão cada vez mais longas, e mais e mais UCs e populações se tornarão elegíveis para análise. Portanto, a continuidade do programa é essencial para garantir resultados mais robustos

Efeitos da fragmentação florestal sobre a composição e abundância de lagartos de serrapilheira e sub-bosque em fragmentos associados a uma savana amazônica

Este estudo investigou os efeitos da fragmentação sobre a composição e abundância de lagartos de serrapilheira e sub-bosque em fragmentos associados a savanas amazônicas na região de Alter do Chão, Pará. Na primeira parte foram estudados os efeitos do tamanho do fragmento, da distância da mata contínua, da densidade de árvores (estrutura da vegetação) e da biomassa de invertebrados (disponibilidade de alimento) sobre a composição da comunidade baseada em dados quantitativos (abundância das espécies) e qualitativos (presença/ausência), e sobre a riqueza de espécies. A composição da comunidade foi descrita através de uma técnica de ordenação (escalonamento multidimensional híbrido - HMDS). A composição da comunidade baseada em dados quantitativos foi afetada significativamente pelo tamanho do fragmento e pela biomassa de invertebrados. A composição baseada em dados qualitativos foi afetada somente pelo tamanho do fragmento. Nenhuma das variáveis afetou a riqueza de espécies. Na segunda parte, foram avaliados os efeitos do tamanho do fragmento, da densidade de árvores, e da disponibilidade de alimento sobre a abunância de Ameiva ameiva, Kentropyx striata, Mabuya nigropunctata, Gonatodes humeralis e Coleodactylus amazonicus. Nenhuma das variáveis afetou a abundância de A. ameiva, M. nigropunctata e G. humeralis. Kentropyx striata foi afetado negativamente pelo tamanho do fragmento e C. amazonicus, positivamente. Estes resultados indicam que a fragmentação gera diferentes respostas de populações, pois algumas espécies respondem positivamente ou parecem não ser afetadas, enquanto outras são afetadas negativamente, possivelmente por fatores ambientais causados por efeitos de borda

Identificando ocelotes por el patrón de manchas usando el Whiskerbook

The identification of animals at an individual-level is the key for studies of wildlife abundance, density, and population dynamics parameters, such as reproduction and survival. The Wildbook is an online and free database employed to identify a wide range of species at the individual-level by comparing their individual marks in photographs, provided either by citizen science endeavors or passive monitoring. Here, we present the first record of the use of the Whiskerbook platform to identify spotted species in South America. The data was obtained by the camera trap monitoring performed at the Ecological Station Terra do Meio in Brazil throughout five years, with an average of 60 cameras/year and a total of 20.668 days of records. We identified at least 78 ocelots along the five years of monitoring, from a total of 810 camera trap records. Recaptures were recorded from four years and occurred always within one year from the first capture. Recaptures were also recorded within the same year and place for 17 ocelot individuals and co-occurrences suggested that a mean of 3.7 individuals were recorded sharing 14 cameras over the years. Despite Whiskerbook’s limitations, it has demonstrated to be a promising tool for conservation issues, and its potential should be further explored by wildlife researchers.La identificación de animales a nivel individual es clave para estudios de abundancia, densidad y parámetros de dinámica poblacional de la vida silvestre, como reproducción y supervivencia. Wildbook es una base de datos gratuita y online que se emplea para identificar una amplia gama de especies a nivel individual comparando sus marcas individuales en fotografías, proporcionadas ya sea por esfuerzos de ciencia ciudadana o por monitoreo pasivo. Aquí presentamos el primer registro del uso de la plataforma Whiskerbook para identificar especies manchadas en América del Sur. Los datos fueron obtenidos en el monitoreo por cámaras trampa durante 5 años en la Estación Ecológica Terra do Meio en Brasil, con en media 60 cámaras instaladas por año y un total de 20.668 días de registros fotográficos. Tuvimos identificaciones de al menos 78 ocelotes a lo largo de los cinco años de monitoreo, de un total de 810 registros de cámaras trampa. Las recapturas se registraron a partir de cuatro años y siempre ocurrieron dentro del año siguiente a la primera captura. También se registraron recapturas dentro del mismo año y lugar para 17 individuos de ocelote y las co-ocurrencias sugirieron que se registró un promedio de 3,7 individuos compartiendo 14 cámaras a lo largo de los años. A pesar de las limitaciones, Whiskerbook ha demostrado ser una gran herramienta para cuestiones de conservación, y su potencial debería ser explorado más a fondo por investigadores de vida silvestre

AMAZONIA CAMTRAP: A data set of mammal, bird, and reptile species recorded with camera traps in the Amazon forest

The Amazon forest has the highest biodiversity on Earth. However, information on Amazonian vertebrate diversity is still deficient and scattered across the published, peer-reviewed, and gray literature and in unpublished raw data. Camera traps are an effective non-invasive method of surveying vertebrates, applicable to different scales of time and space. In this study, we organized and standardized camera trap records from different Amazon regions to compile the most extensive data set of inventories of mammal, bird, and reptile species ever assembled for the area. The complete data set comprises 154,123 records of 317 species (185 birds, 119 mammals, and 13 reptiles) gathered from surveys from the Amazonian portion of eight countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). The most frequently recorded species per taxa were: mammals: Cuniculus paca (11,907 records); birds: Pauxi tuberosa (3713 records); and reptiles: Tupinambis teguixin (716 records). The information detailed in this data paper opens up opportunities for new ecological studies at different spatial and temporal scales, allowing for a more accurate evaluation of the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, and other human-mediated defaunation processes in one of the most important and threatened tropical environments in the world. The data set is not copyright restricted; please cite this data paper when using its data in publications and we also request that researchers and educators inform us of how they are using these data

Neotropical xenarthrans: a dataset of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics.

International audienceXenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions forecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosys-tem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts withdomestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their fulldistribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths.Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae(3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data onDasypus pilo-sus(Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized,but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In thisdata paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence andquantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is fromthe southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of theNeotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regardinganteaters,Myrmecophaga tridactylahas the most records (n=5,941), andCyclopessp. havethe fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data isDasypus novemcinctus(n=11,588), and the fewest data are recorded forCalyptophractus retusus(n=33). Withregard to sloth species,Bradypus variegatushas the most records (n=962), andBradypus pyg-maeushas the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to makeoccurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly ifwe integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, andNeotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure,habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possiblewith the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data inpublications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are usingthese data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data