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Link to enlarge image K5741 © Justin Kerr Charles Zidar
ANCIENT MAYA ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Family:  Psittacidae
Genus:  Ara
Species:  macao
Authority:  Linnaeus, 1758
Common Name:  Scarlet Macaw
Maya Name:  K’ota’, Mox
Faunal Type:  Bird
Depictions:  Polychrome Ceramics
Significance:  Seven Macaw posed as the sun in the Popol Vuh (Schlesinger 2001). On Stela B at Copan, a ruler is portrayed flanked by macaws. Six macaws heads are depicted at Copan’s ball court. In a burial at Copan’s Structure 16, several macaws were buried. Macaw feathers were widely traded. Feathers were used for headdresses, clothing and offered in ceremonies (Tozzer and Allen 1910).
Photos:  Click on an image below for high resolution comparison.


Other Faunal Photos:   Additional views of the faunal species, click on a photo below to view larger image.
Artifact Photo(s) Courtesy of Justin Kerr (FAMSI); Animal Photo(s) Courtesy of Wikipedia GNU General Public License Version 1.2, November 2002; Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0/2.5 License(s).



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