Background
Biocultural diversity and contemporary indigenous knowledge
The Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, its biocultural diversity and ethnobiology
Ethnoherpetology: herpetofauna and Mexican cultures
Methods
Study area
Field study methods
Workshops
Interviews
Species identification
Quantitative and qualitative analyses
Results
“There are not mazacohuatl in here, but there are in Temazcalco. It eats gophers, where it is present, there are no gophers” (Serafín 63 years old).
Kohuatl (serpents)
Ethnocategories and cultural relevance
Náhuatl name | Spanish name | Total spp included | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adults | Young people | Children | |||
1. | _______ | Cinta/cuarta | 7 | a | |
2. | Akohuatl | _______ | 5 | 1 | |
3. | Cajfenkohuatl | _______ | 1 | ||
4. | Kochipi | Dormilona | 2 | ||
5. | Kohuatl | Serpiente | 9 | ||
6. | Ezkohuatl | Coralillo | 10 | 2 | 3 |
7. | Ilamakohuatl | _______ | 6 | 1 | 4 |
8. | Mazakohuatl | _______ | 1 | 2 | |
9. | Nakaskohuatl | Orejona | 2 | 1 | |
10. | Naranjaskohuatl | _______ | 1 | ||
11. | Palanca | _______ | 2 | 1 | |
12. | Palane | Cinta venenosa | 1 | ||
13. | Petlakohuatl | _______ | 1 | ||
14. | Petlasolkohuatl | _______ | 1 | ||
15. | Quimichkohuatl | _______ | 1 | 1 | |
16. | Tenexkohuatl | _______ | 1 | 1 | |
17. | Tepexilokohuatl | _______ | 1 | 3 | |
18. | Tepotzo | _______ | 6 | 1 | 2 |
19. | Tepotzonsi/Tsintornillo | Sin tornillo | 2 | 1 | |
20. | Tlilkohuatl | Ratonera | 2 | 1 | 1 |
21. | Xochinawiyak | _______ | 1 | 1 |
Material and non-material importance (use, management, perceptions, beliefs, and legends)
Snake species | Nahuatl name | Spanish name | No. individuals | Status NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010a | IUCNb | Endemism | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pliocercus elapoides | Ezkohuatl | Coralillo | 1 | Lc | ||
2 | Leptodeira polysticta | Palane | Cinta venenosa | 4 | Lc | ||
3 | Lampropeltis polyzona | Ezkohuatl | Coralillo | 3 | Lc | ||
4 | Imantodes cenchoa | ______ | ______ | 2 | Pr | Lc | |
5 | Ophryacus undulatus | Nakaskohuatl | 3 | Pr | Vu | En | |
6 | Micrurus elegans | Ezkohuatl | Coralillo | 1 | Pr | Lc | |
7 | Micrurus nigrocinctus | Ezkohuatl | Coralillo | 1 | Lc | ||
8 | Tropidodipsas sartori | Ezkohuatl | coralillo | 1 | Lc | ||
9 | Thamnophis sumichrasti | Petlasolkohuatl | 1 | A | Lc | En | |
10 | Spilotes pullatus | Xochinawiyak | ___ | 1 | Lc |
“The tlilcuhuatl is very clever to kill other snakes, even when these are big ones” (Rutilio 74 years old).
“It is black, I think pure black (the tlilkohuatl). And people say that if you get angry and you go somewhere, that snake goes after you to roll up your feet. That happened to my mum.” (Sonia 32 years old).
“They (grandparents) realize that… well, they say that when Quetzalcóatl appears, the good time will be present for five to ten years. Then, it moves to another place where it will provide benefit.” (Damián 60 years old)
Ketzo (lizards and salamanders), kalatl (frogs and toads), and ayotsi (turtles)
Ethnocategories and cultural relevance
Náhuatl name | Spanish name | Total of spp included | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adults | Young people | Children | |||
Lizard/salamander | |||||
1. | Tlaconetl | ______ | 7 | 2 | 3 |
2. | Ketzo | Lagartija (lizard) | 6 | 3 | 3 |
3. | Cowixi | ______ | 6 | ||
4. | Tlalkuitla | ______ | 4 | ||
5. | Topitzi | ______ | 4 | 1 | |
6. | Tetlina | ______ | 3 | ||
7. | ______ | Sabario | 2 | ||
8. | Inantetl | ______ | 1 | ||
9. | Ocokimichi | Lagartija | a | a | |
10. | Chichintilketzo | Lagartija gris (grey lizard) | a | ||
11. | Mikakimichi | a | |||
Frog/toad | |||||
12. | Kalatl | Rana (frog) | 24 | 9 | 1 |
13. | Kalatlpipitzo | 3 | |||
14. | Kalaxoxoctic | Rana verde (green frog) | 1 | ||
15. | Kalachichiltic | Rana roja (red frog) | 1 | ||
16. | Kalame | 3 | 1 | ||
17. | Kalatera | 1 | |||
18. | Kalapalanki | 2 | 1 | ||
19. | Zibatl | Rana | a | ||
20. | Xoxobikalame | Rana azul (blue frog) | a | ||
21. | Okichtli | Sapo | a | ||
Turtle | |||||
22. | Ayotsi | Tortuga (turtle) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Material and non-material importance (use, management, perceptions, beliefs, legends)
“Yes, it (the tetlina) warns that something is going to happen with rain. This, the tetlina, warns, that is why it is always in a cool place.” (Celestino 65 years old).
Discussion
“It is what I call Quetzalcóatl, and that is why I realized it is true, because I even remember when I was a child and read books of literature and history, where it was explained that ancient people adored it very much.” (Damián 60 years old).