We recorded 26 mammal species or species groups as roadkill along seven highways in São Paulo State, Brazil. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)-vehicle collisions were the most frequently reported species and, because of their size and weight, they can cause substantial vehicle damage and are a serious threat to human safety. Other roadkilled species such as maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) indicate there may also be a conservation concern that could warrant the implementation of mitigation measures aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and providing safe crossing opportunities. For this paper we investigated a potential third argument for the implementation of mitigation measures: economics. We calculated vehicle repair costs associated with capybara-vehicle collisions based on interviews with personnel from car repair shops. In addition, we reviewed the effectiveness of wildlife fencing in combination with wildlife crossing structures in reducing collisions with large mammals. We then estimated the costs for four mitigation measures (fencing with and without three types of culverts). These data were used to conduct cost-benefit analyses over a 75-year period using discount rates of 1%, 3%, and 7% to identify the threshold values (in 2012 R$) above which the four individual mitigation measures start generating benefits in excess of costs. These threshold values were translated into the number of capybara-vehicle collisions that need to occur per kilometer per year for a mitigation measure to start generating economic benefits in excess of costs. For example, based on an analysis with average vehicle repair costs and a 3% discount rate, we calculated that with at least 5.4 capybara-vehicle collisions per kilometer per year, a combination of wildlife fencing and any of the three culvert types would be economically feasible. In addition, we calculated the total costs associated with capybara-vehicle collisions on seven major highways in São Paulo State, Brazil, and we compared these to the threshold values. Finally, we conducted more detailed cost analyses for the seven highways to illustrate that even though the costs for capybara-vehicle collisions may not justify the implementation of measures along an entire highway, specific locations along a highway can still exceed thresholds. We believe the cost-benefit model presented in this paper can be a valuable decision support tool to help select locations and implement mitigation measures. These measures improve human safety, are likely to benefit nature conservation, and are economically justified even based on very conservative cost-benefit analyses. We do stress though that the threshold values presented in this paper are based on a series of assumptions and estimates and that they should be taken as indicative values rather than exact values.

Direct road mortality and the barrier effect of roads are typically identified as one of the greatest threats to wildlife. In addition, collisions with large mammals are also a threat to human safety and represent an economic cost to society. We documented and explored the effects of animal-vehicle crashes on human safety in São Paulo State, Brazil. We estimated the costs of these crashes to society, and we summarized the legal perspectives. On average, the Military Highway Police of São Paulo reported 2,611 animal-vehicle crashes per year (3.3% of total crashes), and 18.5% of these resulted in human injuries or fatalities. The total annual cost to society was estimated at R$ 56,550,642 (US $ 25,144,794). The average cost for an animal-vehicle crash, regardless of whether human injuries and fatalities occurred, was R$ 21,656 (US $ 9,629). The Brazilian legal system overwhelmingly (91.7% of the cases) holds the road administrator liable for animal-vehicle collisions, both with wild and domestic species. On average, road administrators spent R$ 2,463,380 (US $ 1,005,051) per year compensating victims. The logical conclusion is that the Brazilian legal system expects road administrators to keep animals, both wild and domestic species, off the road. We suggest an improved coordination between the laws that relate to animal-vehicle collisions and human safety, and the process for environmental licenses that focusses on reducing collisions with wildlife and providing habitat connectivity. In addition, we suggest better management practices, raising awareness and social change with regard to abandoned domesticated animals including horses, cattle, and dogs. This should ultimately result in a road system with improved human safety, reduced unnatural mortality for both domestic and wild animal species, safe crossing opportunities for wildlife, and reduced monetary costs to society.

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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.