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Charles Zidar
ANCIENT MAYA ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH |
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| Family: | Trogonidae | | Genus: | Pharomachrus | | Species: | mocinno | | Authority: | De la Llave, 1832 | | Common Name: | Resplendent Quetzal | | Maya Name: | K’uk’ | | Faunal Type: | Bird | | Depictions: | Polychrome Ceramics | | Significance: | Male quetzal tail feathers (plummets) were used for elite Maya headdresses. Kukulcan was created in the likeness of a quetzal. Feathers were prized and frequently traded by the Maya. Feathers were usually harvested with no harm done to the bird. Feathers would grow back once the bird molted. The bird was considered very sacred. | | 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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