| Probably the most feared and revered beast in Mesoamerica, the jaguar (panthera onca) played a prominent religious role. Like humankind, the jaguar occupies the top level of the food chain, and people sought to identify themselves with the big cat. Generally nocturnal, the jaguar’s eyes are luminous gold disks at night and a jaguar skull excavated at Kaminaljuyu bears gold pyrite eyes. Distinctive black rosettes characterize jaguar pelage, and they are presented even on the rarer all-black jaguar although they can be seen only in raking light. Fishers as well as hunters, jaguars live exclusively in the tropical rain forest but were sought in tribute and traded by all highland civilizations in Mexico. Called ocelotl in Nahautl, the jaguar is not to be confused in English with ocelot (panthera pardalis), the smaller cat of the similar pelage. |
