Crocodiles need more study in iconography of Classic Maya art
Posted February 22, 2022 by Nicholas Hellmuth
There are two species of crocodiles and one species of caiman in Guatemala and surrounding countries of Mesoamerica. Crocodiles are known from 3D sculptures at Yaxchilan and rock outcrops near Copan. Crocodile trees are well known from proto-Maya stelae of Izapa, Chiapas, Mexico and from Early Classic and Late Classic scenes on ceramics.
But rarely do iconographers or archaeologists identify (and document) which species it is. Thus the team at FLAAR (USA) and FLAAR Mesoamerica (Guatemala) are dedicated to photographing the different species at different angles so that iconographers and archaeologists can see the details.
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This is the crocodile that you see in many rivers and lakes of Peten. I estimate this is the in-land crocodile, Crocodylus moreletii. But the sign said it was the other crocodile, Crocodylus acutus. But this croc in front of me does not have a longer head that is the indicator for a Crocodylus acutus. Crocodylus acutus is found in brackish water close to the Caribbean Sea. It is a challenge to identify the species when they are not in their original wild habitat. |
