The Maya Tropical Forest: People, Parks, and Ancient CIties

Index

Index Acacia angustissisma, 68, 209 Agkistrodon bilineatus russeolus, 71 agouti. See Dasyprocta punctata Agouti paca: as bushmeat, 172; described , 52–53; hunting of, 53 agriculture, Maya, 20; highland Maya, 29; impact of depopulation on, 33–34. See also crops: Maya Agriocharis ocellata, 198 Ajaw Kan Ek’, 40, 179 alligator gar. See Atractosteus tropicus allspice. See Pimenta dioica Alouatta palliata, 57 Alouatta pigra: described, 56–57; in Sierra del Lacandón, 191 Altar de Sacrificios, 27 Altun Ha, 23, 248–249 Alvarado, Pedro de, 31, 33 amate, 95–96 Amazona albifrons, 68 Amazona farinosa, 68–69 animals: domesticated, 34; of the Maya Tropical Forest, 51–93; mythological , 90–93; and rainfall, 51 Annals of the Cakchiquels, 29 annatto, 96 anteater. See Cyclopes didactylus ants: army, 84; in Cecropia trees, 100; leafcutter, 88–89 Apis mellifera, 86–87 Ara macao cyanoptera: and Chalillo dam, 230; described, 67–68; at El Perú/Waka’, 209; at Las Guacamayas Biological Station, 192; poaching in Selva Lacandona, 141–142 Aramus guarauna, 84 Ardea alba, 118 Ariopsis felis, 82 Aspidosperma magalocarpon, 93 Ateles geoffroyi, 56–57 Atitlán, Lake, 29 Atractosteus tropicus, 82 Atran, Scott, 180 Atropoides nummifer, 71–72 Atta spp., 88–89 Attalea cohune, 104 Aztecs, 31 bajos, 172, 223 balche. See Lonchocarpus longistylus balsam. See Myroxylon balsamum barbasco vine. See Dioscorea spp. Basic Resources, Ltd., 192 bats, 198, 224 bayal vine. See Desmoncus orthocanthos beekeeping, 86 bees: attacks on scarlet macaws, 67–68. See also Apis mellifera; Melipona beecheii Beletsky, Les, 66, 247 314  the maya tropical forest Belize: archaeological sites, 23, 27, 248–256; and coral reef, 228; geography of, 228; history of, 230–231; land dispute with Guatemala, 231–232; and logging, 237, 240; map of, 226; peoples of, 233–239; population of, 228; protected areas, 239–247; Spanish claims to, 230–231; vegetation of, 229; mentioned , 7, 8 Belize Audubon Society, 246 Belize Zoo: and crocodiles, 76; described , 240 Billy, Santiago: at Calakmul, 170–171; captured by guerrillas, 10–15; and La Corona/Sak Nikte’, 200–201; and Maya Biosphere Reserve, 187; and peccaries, 65–66; at Piedras Negras, 3; at Pozo Maya, 188; and satellite image, 194; and sisimite, 91; and wasp bite, 85; mentioned, 55 Bio-Itza: history of, 180; size and location of, 43–44 biological diversity: and biosphere reserves, 16; and Central America, 49; and the Maya Tropical Forest, 48–49; roots in geological history, 48–49; in Selva Lacandona, 144 biosphere reserves: defined, 15–17; and Mexican legislation, 146 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí, 198 Biotopo Laguna del Tigre-Río Escondido , 197 Biotopo Naachtún-Dos Lagunas, 196 Biotopo San Miguel La Palotada-El Zotz, 197 birds, 66–69. See also specific species Bjork, Robin, 67, 69 Bladen Branch Nature Reserve, 240–241, 267 blanco. See Petenia splendida Blom, Frans, 28 Bonampak: description of, 149–151; discovery of, 149; as protected area, 146; mentioned, 23 Boremanse, Didier, 139 botfly. See Dermatobia hominis Bothriechis schlegelii, 72 Bothrops asper: described, 71; bites, 85 Brito Foucher, Rodulfo: and definition of Maya Tropical Forest, 48; and logging camps, 48, 123–124 Bromelia penguin, 120 Brosimum alicastrum: described, 97–98, as food for monkeys, 120 Buot, Geneviéve, 74 Bursera simaruba, 101 Butzer, Karl, 33 Cabrera, Jorge, 187 cacao. See Theobroma cacao Cairina moschata, 209 Calakmul archaeological site: described , 168–171; and La Corona/ Sak Nikte’, 202; mentioned, 23 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve: and coatimundis , 58; described, 164–168; and jaguars, 55; map of, 165; vegetation of, 166; wildlife of, 166–167 Camino Real, 36, 39, 42 Campbell, Jonathan A.: on crocodiles, 76; on iguanas, 77; on venomous snakes, 70 Cañon del Colorado, 119–120 cantil. See Agkistrodon bilineatus Caracol: described, 249–251; and Naranjo, 207; and Tikal, 250 Carmelita, Petén, 172 Carrasco, Ramón, 169 Carrillo, Eduardo, 55 Caste War of Yucatan: and Belize, 235; and Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, 166; history of, 44 Castilla elastica, 108 Castillo Mont, Juan José, 188, 191 Catalán, Carlos: and La Corona/Sak Nikte’, 200–201; on snakebite remedy, 73; on wasp bite, 85 catfish, 82. See also specific species Cathorops aguadulce, 82 Cathorops melanolopus, 82 Cecropia peltata, 100 Index  315 Ceibal, 27 Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), 275 Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (CECON), 196–197 Centropomus undecimalis: described, 81; migration, 81; and name of Río Usumacinta, 82, 156 Cerezo, Vinicio, 186–187, 194–195 Cerro Cahuí. See Biotopo Cerro Cahuí Chalillo...