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.

Cabassous comprises armadillos lacking a full osteoderm cover in the tail, justifying its common name naked-tailed armadillos. In the only taxonomic revision of the genus, in 1980, four living species were recognized, including a polytypic taxon with two subspecies. Recent studies have questioned this classification, but a comprehensive taxonomic review is lacking. Here, we revise the taxonomy of the genus Cabassous using complementary morphological approaches and clarify the geographical limits of naked-tailed armadillo species. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses, we recognize five living species: C. centralis, C. chacoensis, C. squamicaudis, C. unicinctus, and C. tatouay. Most of the species can be easily differentiated using external or cranial traits, except C. centralis and C. unicinctus, which share several morphological features. The scutes pattern on the cephalic shield is an important diagnostic feature in naked-tailed armadillos and can be easily applied in field studies. Cabassous squamicaudis and C. unicinctus were previously treated as subspecies but we show they have conspicuous diagnostic traits, without mixture of characters even in closer contact. Cabassous species can be classified as open-dwellers (C. chacoensis and C. squamicaudis), forest-dwellers (C. centralis and C. unicinctus), or of more generalist habits (C. tatouay). We designate a lectotype for C. unicinctus to preserve its long-term nomenclature use.

Resumo: Os morcegos estão comumente inseridos no contexto da área urbana, seja se abrigando em construções ou se alimentando em árvores frutíferas ou capturando insetos. Mas os aspectos negativos e errôneos sobre esse grupo dificultam estratégias de conservação. Por esse motivo, esse estudo analisou a percepção de alunos do Ensino Fundamental sobre os morcegos, inserindo atividades de Educação Ambiental através do teatro e palestra, e análises, ao longo do tempo, com a aplicação de questionários. Os resultados demonstraram que informações distorcidas fazem parte do contexto individual de alguns alunos, e, mesmo após inserção da Educação Ambiental, alguns alunos não mudam seus conceitos individuais. Diferentemente, vários alunos mudaram seus conceitos negativos por corretas informações, e demonstraram-se sensibilizados pelos morcegos.Palavras-chave: Educação Ambiental. Ensino Fundamental. Morcegos. Área urbana. Ecologia. Abstract:Bats are common in urban areas, taking shelter in buildings or feeding on fruit trees or capturing insects. But negative and erroneous ideas about this group hinder conservation strategies. Therefore this study examined the perception of elementary school students about bats within environmental education activities through theater and lectures and analysis over time with the use of questionnaires. The results showed that distorted information is part of the individual context of some students and even after the inclusion of environmental education, some students do not change their individual concepts. However many students did change their negative concepts and demonstrated correct information and a sensitivity towards bats.

RESUMOA criação de unidades de conservação tem sido a principal estratégia para preservar a biodiversidade. O recente emprego de técnicas como o sensoriamento remoto e a otimização matemática, aliados a dados biológicos, ajudam a definir as áreas prioritárias para conservação, indicando a representação máxima da biodiversidade com base em medidas de complementaridade. O presente trabalho objetivou selecionar áreas de interesse ecológico, com base na heterogeneidade de hábitats, através da integração de imagens de satélite com dados biológicos, em Cocalinho, MT. As 66 parcelas quadradas estabelecidas foram comparadas com base na heterogeneidade e na representatividade mínima (ha) dos ambientes em cada parcela, através do programa SITES. O parque de cerrado é a fitofisionomia predominante em Cocalinho (38,44%). A região central do município concentrou o maior agrupamento de parcelas, indicando a maior heterogeneidade de hábitats do local. Oficialmente, 6% da área total do município estão protegidos em duas unidades de conservação na categoria de Refúgios de Vida Silvestre. Esses refúgios foram demarcados em locais com cobertura vegetal homogênea e sem considerar a composição faunística e florística. O modelo usado neste estudo pode ser uma boa abordagem a ser empregada no processo de indicação de novas unidades de conservação no bioma Cerrado ou em outros biomas do Brasil. PALAVRAS-CHAVEcerrado, mato grosso, sensoriamento-remoto, modelagem e unidades de conservação.Selection of areas of ecological importance through remote sensing and mathematics optimization: a case study in the municipality of Cocalinho, Mato Grosso. ABSTRACTThe creation of conservation areas has been a major strategy for biodiversity conservation. The recent use of techniques such as remote sensing and the optimization of mathematics contribute to the identification of priority areas for conservation through the use of biological data. Thus, maximal representativeness of biodiversity based on measures of complementarity can be achieved. This study aimed to identify areas of ecological importance in the municipality of Cocalinho, Mato Grosso. The selection was based on habitat heterogeneity, through the integration of satellite images and biological information. A total of 66 quadrats (parcels) were established and compared in relation to: 1) habitat heterogeneity, and 2) the minimal representativeness (ha) of vegetation types within each parcel. The analyses were done using the SITES program. The parque de cerrado is the dominant phytophysiognomy in Cocalinho. Parcels were concentrated in the central region of this municipality, indicating its high habitat heterogeneity. Northwards, the landscape is more homogenous due to the dominance of vegetation. In the southern portion, the land occupation is evidence of the expansion of the agriculture frontier in this region. Officially, 6% of this municipality area is protected in two wildlife refuges. In the SITES selection, these reserves were included only within representativeness of smaller size, w...

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