SOME SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS OF THE CENTRAL DEPRESSION AND THE PACIFIC COAST OF CHIAPAS AND CENTRAL AMERICA AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTOMANGUEAN AFFILIATION SOCIETIES

Abstract

The objective of the research was to study the knowledge of the inhabitants of the Central Depression and Pacific Coast of Chiapas about some species of plants and animals characteristic of the Dry Forest or Low Deciduous Forest, such species are Spondias sp. (purple mombin), Byrsonima crassifolia (nance), Crescentia cujete (calabash tree), Ceiba pentandra(kapok tree), Plumeria rubra (frangipani), Iguana sp., Ctenosaura pectinata (common green iguana, black iguana), Momotus sp. (blue crowned motmot, russet crowned motmot) and Eumomota superciliosa (turquoise browned motmot). The species Dasypus novemcinctus (nine banded armadillo) was also included, which was not originally considered, but was widely referred to by the individuals interviewed. These species are widely known and used in Nicaragua for utilitarian or symbolic purposes, so finding that they are known and used by the population of the sampled area, the general hypothesis of the thesis of which this article is part is strengthened. which states that the pre-Hispanic Otomangues emigrated from Mexico to Central America through the ecosystem formed by the Low Deciduous Forest, typical of the Pacific coast from Mexico to the Gulf of Nicoya and some inland areas such as the Central Depression of Chiapas and the basin of Lake from Nicaragua. In addition, the traces of the relationship between the Otomangues and the ecosystem in question still persist today. To explore this idea, a total of 206 semi-structured interviews were applied in 12 municipalities in the area. The study revealed an important connection between the knowledge and use of these species and the culture of the local population.