A dataset of new occurrence records of primates from the arc of deforestation, Brazil

The arc of deforestation, located between the southern Amazonia and the northern Cerrado of Brazil, is a top deforestation frontier worldwide. The high deforestation rates in this region are caused by human activities and threatens a rich diversity of primates that are still poorly-known and therefore investments into taxonomy and distribution research are urgent to support science-driven conservation of primates of this region. Here we present a dataset of 192 new occurrence records for 22 species of primates of the genera Alouatta, Aotus, Ateles, Cebus, Chiropotes, Lagothrix, Leontocebus, Pithecia, Plecturocebus, Saimiri, and Sapajus, collected during 10 field expeditions carried out across the arc of deforestation between 2015-2018. Based on these occurrence records we extend the ranges of Saimiri collinsi, Sapajus apella, and Alouatta puruensis, identify a potential hybridization zone between A. puruensis and Alouatta discolor, and redefine the range of Plecturocebus moloch. Moreover, this dataset is a useful source of information otherwise scarce for further researches on species distributions and habitat use patterns, on the effect of environmental variables on such patterns, for estimating population sizes, evaluating habitat suitability, for predicting effects of climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation on populations, and for assessing species extinction risks. The ranges of primates endemic to the arc of deforestation, with a few exceptions, are fragile hypotheses, which hampers the establishment of effective conservation efforts for species increasingly threatened on a global deforestation frontier.