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Lizards in the Mayan Culture

Written by Biologist Pamela Alejandra Jerez Pazos On August 19, 2024
Edited by Sergio D’angelo Jerez

One of the most diverse and fascinating groups of reptiles are lizards, which occupy a fundamental position in the ecosystems of the entire planet. These extraordinary creatures can have a wide variety of shapes, sizes and behaviors, which not only reinforces the importance of studying them, but also makes them very interesting.

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Basiliscus vittatus. La Buga, Livingston; March 2021. Photo by Victor Mendoza.

Lizards constitute a group of four-limbed organisms with scales, an external ear opening, and movable eyelids (Almaraz, 2024).

In Guatemala, there are around 106 species, divided into 17 families among which are chameleons, skinks, iguanas, and geckos. The families are: Anguidae, Corytophanidae, Dactyloidae, Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, Gymnophtalmidae, Helodermatidae, Iguanidae, Mabuyidae, Phrynosomatidae, Phyllodactylidae, Scincidae, Sphaerodactylidae, Sphenomorphidae, Teiidae, Xantusiidae, and Xenosauridae.

Norops sp. Natural Reserve Tapon Creek, Livingston. David Arrivillaga, October 2021.

Given their great diversity in the region, it is not a surprise that these animals were portrayed by the Maya in the past, and that they made their way into some more modern Maya cultural expressions. How? Take a look at the following examples:

To begin with, some of the rulers in the Maya civilization were named after lizard species. In Chiapas (Mexico) there was at least one ruler named Aj Sak Teles, which means the White Lizard (Davletshin, 2009; Houston et al., 2017). Not far away, was registered a second name including the name of a lizard, and curiously, a color as well. The name is Aj Yax Tolook, which means the Green and Blue Lizard, and it was found on a polychrome cylindrical vessel from the Lord of Petén (Houston et al., 2017). It is speculated that this name in particular may be referring to a species of basilisk, which in addition is believed to have been used for medicine by mashing its brain (Houston et al., 2017).

Written by Sergio D’angelo Jerez on July 16, 2024

Most of the ideas discussed in this article regarding the different meanings that snakes hold in the Maya art where taken from Saturno et al. (2005) Los murales de San Bartolo, El Petén, Guatemala, parte 1: El mural del norte.

Snakes are definitely present and relevant in the cosmovision of many different cultures. For instance, in western culture snakes are linked with the devil, as well as with deception and temptation, attributes that derived from Christianity. The Mayan culture was no exception and had its own way of depicting and understanding snakes. They used them frequently as symbols that held different meanings. Due to the fact that today, 16 of July, is World Snake Day, we want to share how Mayas represented snakes in their art.

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Boa imperator at Tikal, locally known as mazacuata. Photo shared by Rony Rodriguez. December 2019.

Snakes are found in many different artifacts, sculptures and ruins from Pre Columbian cultures. They are portrayed in Stela 4 of Takalik Abaj; Structure 5d-33-2º from Tikal; vessels from different cities including Naranjo and Kaminal Juyú; sculptures in staircases from Teotihuacán, Xochicalco, and Chichén Itzá, and many more (Saturno et al. 2005). They were even captured through architecture, such as with the optical effect of the descending serpent in the pyramid of Kukulán, in Chichén Itzá, which happens on every spring equinox.

Regarding their cultural relevance it is evident that the Mayas thought of snakes as symbolic animals since one of the most powerful dynasties is now known as the Kaanul or Snake Head Dynasty (or just Snake Dynasty). This dynasty is thought to be among the only ones that got to build the closest thing to an empire (Taub 2024). Their kings and elite were depicted with an emblem that shows up across the Mayan region called the grinning snake (Vance 2016).

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Detail of the triangular pattern on the skin of Bothrops asper, also known in Guatemala as barba amarilla. Photo by Maria Alejandra Gutierrez; Biotopo Chocón Machacas, 2021.

Turning back to snake actual representations, some of the most detailed snakes in Maya art can be found in the Murals of San Bartolo. There are at least 4 of these animals in these murals and two of them are very close in appearance to real species that inhabit the Maya jungle. According to Rodríguez (personal communication, July 10, 2024) one of this species could be Bothrops asper due to the triangular pattern that adorns one of the drawings. Other local species, such as Crotalus spp. and Boa constrictor also have a triangular pattern however.

Posted by Flor Morales Arroyo on April 29, 2024

Smilisca cyanosticta on a leaf. Photograph by: Erick Flores, 2018. FLAAR Mesoamerica.

Human well-being depends directly or indirectly on the services provided by ecosystems. Amphibians represent a high proportion of global species diversity and include species widely distributed around the world that perform a variety of functions that benefit humans. They keep insect pest populations in check, help control algal blooms in the water, and facilitate decomposition and nutrient cycling through waste excretion, improving soil quality by digging burrows, and are also an important food source for several types of organisms, including animals such as mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and even other amphibians. In addition to all the natural factors, amphibians have helped advance medicine and science by being studied as model organisms.

Smilisca baudinii resting on a leaf. Photograph by: David Arrivillaga, FLAAR Mesoamerica, 2019. Parque Nacional Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo, Petén, Guatemala.

They have an important ecological and economic role within ecosystems. They are essential in the food chain, both in water and on land. Without them, the chances of our ecosystems collapsing are high. Amphibians are considered accurate indicators of environmental health and habitat quality due to their high vulnerability to pollution and environmental changes, which is why they are considered “bioindicators.” Simply put, if you see a frog or salamander, you'll probably think the environment is healthy. This good environmental quality is important not only for amphibians, but for all nature and biodiversity, including humans. In Neotropical ecosystems they play a key role in energy flow and nutrient cycling in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Posted by Dr Nicholas Hellmuth on March 25, 2024

One noticeable feature of the new MUNAE exhibits of Director/Administrator Christopher Martínez is the biodiversity of the fauna presented by the artifacts that he selected to be featured in the new exhibits. So far I have found over a dozen animals and one conch shell. There are also several scenes with flowers but the present web page is on the animals of the newly featured ceramics and stone sculptures that you can see and experience when you come to visit MUNAE, near the airport in Zona 13.

Spider monkey inside mammiform tetrapod, MUNAE.

Spider monkeys (Howler monkey almost never pictured)
Maya dog (no fur on most of body, no barking sound)
Armadillo (on ballgame hacha)
Deer (3D ceramic figurine)
Jaguars (Quiche Urns; plate showing human sacrifice from Uaxactun; Tikal stela)
Puma (no spots so I suggest it is a cougar)
Snake (on ballgame hacha)
Parrots (3-dimensional ceramics)
Macaw (3-dimensional ceramic)
Vulture (3-dimensional ceramic)
Bufo toad (large stone sculpture, Rhinella marina, previously Bufo marinas)
Bat (on Chama polychrome vase)
Fish (on Kaminaljuyu stone panel)
Conch shell (on polychrome plate with gorgeous flower above)

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Two easy to see jaguars leap down to grab the bleeding body of a sacrificed victim. There are several vases and plates that show trained jaguars assisting in human sacrifice ceremonies; this plate from Uaxactun is one. There are also two black spider monkeys in the upper left. Their role in this scene needs to be researched. The bottom ring of the plate has jaguar pelage spot designs.

To provide documentation for school children, it would help to have a book for their age to describe each animal in the MUNAE collection. We have many years experience preparing (MayanToons) books and animated videos for school children.

Plus for the general public who are visiting the museum, and for archaeologists and iconographers, it would be great to have a book that introduces the iconography of each mammal, each bird, each reptile and the conch shell. FLAAR has the experience.

Dragons are real and they wander freely in the heart of Mesoamerica: The fascinating lizards of the genus Abronia

Posted by Biologist Mariana Rivas Gálvez on March 15, 2024

Who are the Abronia Lizards?

One of the most fascinating reptiles in the Mesoamerican region are the lizards of the genus Abronia, representing one of the most notable endemic reptiles in the area. These remarkable animals belong to the family “Anguidae”, and some studies suggest their inclusion in the taxonomic group “Toxicofera”, which also includes “helodermatids” (Helodermatidae), “iguanas” (Iguania), and “monitor lizards” (Varanoidea). Their main distribution spans in Mexico and Central America, with Guatemala being a significant distribution point. Approximately 28 to 30 species of these lizards have been identified within this genus, with 12 found in Guatemala alone, at least 8 of which are endemic to the region. Endemic species in this area include A. anzuetoi, A. aurita, A. campbelli, A. fimbriata, A. frosti, A. gaiophantasma, A. meledona, and A. vasconselosii. It is essential to consider that taxonomy, classification, and the number of recorded species may change as more comprehensive research is conducted and new populations are identified.

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Abronia. vasconcelosii - “Dragoncito esmeralda” - Photography by PH. Pedro Pablo Ranero - Zoológico La Aurora - Guatemala City - March 5. 2024.

Posted by Alejandra Valenzuela Cofiño on January 31, 2024

Feathered, warm-blooded and fast-hearted; with a strong yet light-weight skeleton and a four-chambered heart. Birds are egg-laying animals that have been around since before Pangea’s continental breakup, and are direct descendants from a group of meat-eating dinosaurs called Theropods. These were small feathery raptor-like dinosaurs, from the same group to which the infamous T-Rex belonged to! Their smaller size, ability to fly, plus their wide range of food sources (and maybe a little bit of luck) made them the only dinosaurs to survive Earth’s fifth mass extinction. With fossils of their ancestors dating up to 150 million years ago, Modern Birds (Neornithes) are now a group of almost ten thousand known species!

Nowadays, at least a few of these species can be found nearly on every spot on Earth. They have been seen flying all over the world, including over places as bleak as the South Pole or the top of the Himalayas. A wide array of adaptations have resulted in high-speed flying birds of prey as well as non-flying 300 pound ostriches; black and white penguins as well as vibrant scarlet-red macaws with colorful tail feathers. In between all this diversity, the main characteristics that describe all modern birds are: their feathers, wings, toothless beaks, bipedal locomotion and the laying of hard-shelled eggs where embryos conclude their development.

In FLAAR, we love to photograph the tropical bird diversity that we are lucky enough to find during our adventures. These captivating Wood Storks (Mycteria Americana) are a perfect example of the beauties we can find in Mesoamerica’s wetlands! These birds may not appear big through the lens, but in fact they can grow to be over 50 inches tall. They are called “wading birds” because they are almost always found wading along shorelines in search of aquatic insects or crustaceans. As you may see in the pictures, they have long and thin legs that help them wade across the wetlands, and an unfeathered head with a high-vascularised skin that helps them with heat dissipation. The beautiful Mycteria americana species is adapted to the hot and moist weather of these tropical wetlands, just like our passionate FLAAR adventurers.

Two Mycteria americana on a grass field.
Photography by: María Alejandra Gutierrez, FLAAR Mesoamérica, 2024. La Blanca, Petén, Guatemala.

Posted January 18, 2024

This PowerPoint presentation will show scenes not available elsewhere. If you are a student you will find topics for your BA thesis, MA thesis or your PhD dissertation.

If you are a professor this PPTx provides you digital rollouts by Nicholas Hellmuth that have never previously been published. You have permission to download any and all images from this lecture and add to your own presentations.

For the general public this full-color lecture will introduce you to aspects of Classic Maya art (including derived from Olmec art) and continuing into the Post Classic Dresden Codex.

So on the evening of January 22, join us for several thousand years of art, iconography, architecture plus epigraphy of hieroglyphs.

The attached document shows sample illustrations from the lecture.