24 

 americana; ca. 26.1 kg) and the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; ca. 40.0 kg) frequently were 

 observed in or around gardens. 



The main game bird species taken by mestizos and Maya hunters at X-Hazil Sur include the 

 tinamou (Tinamus spp. and Crypturellus spp.), great curassow (Crax rubra), plain chachalaca (Ortalis 

 vetula), and ocellated turkey (Agriocharis ocellata; Griscom, 1926; Leopold, 1977; Chavez Le6n, 

 1983; L6pez Omat, 1991; Lopez Omat et al., 1989; MacKinnon Vda. de Monies, 1989). Other 

 species taken for meat, as pets, or because they are crop predators include the red-billed pigeon 

 (Columba flavirostris), scaled pigeon (C. speciosa), parrots (Amazona spp.), and parakeets (Aratinga 

 spp.). 



The Maya of X-Hazil Sur, like other indigenous people in the Neotropics, take species of 

 wildlife other than birds and mammals. For example, the Maya consume honey produced by wild and 

 cultivated bees (Apidae; Chemas and Rico-Gray, 1991; Roubik et al., 1990). Honey is an important 

 food item for several indigenous groups in the Neotropics (Posey, 1984; Posey and Camargo, 1985). 

 The Maya also consimie modest quantities of fish taken from local sinkholes during the dry season. 

 About 30 species of freshwater fish have been reported from sinkholes in Quintana Roo, but only two 

 species are important for subsistence purposes (Rhamdia guatemalensis [Punelodidae] and Astyanax 

 fasciatus (Characidae; Gamboa-Perez, 1991; Wilkens, 1982 [not seen, cited in Gamboa-Perez, 1991]). 

 Fish also are widely consumed by indigenous groups in the Neotropics (Cameiro, 1970 Chemela, 

 1982, 1985). 



The Maya of X-Hazil Sur, unlike many other indigenous groups in Mexico and throughout the 

 Neotropics, do not consume insects or eggs or meat from snakes, terrestrial turtles, or lizards 

 (Ctenosaura similis). This is in contrast to western Mexico, where lizard (C. pectinata) eggs and meat 

 are consumed by local residents (Parra Lara, 1986; Santana et al., 1990). Maya hunters at X-Hazil 

 Sur, however, recall that 10-20 years ago. along the east coast of Quintana Roo in what is now known 

 as the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Maya hunters harvested reptile products for commercial 

 purposes. These hunters took hides from crocodiles {Crocodylus moreleti) and eggs and scutes from 



