The Olmec city of La Venta was originally constructed in about 100 BC, and flourished in the last centuries before 600 BC. It is a mystery how the Olmecs managed to move these weighty religious statues some 100 km without the use of the wheel.

Coati or Coatimundi (Nasua narica)

Many of the common names still used in North and South America perpetuate the name confusion. Common names for white-nosed coatis include coati and gato solo (Panama), pizote and pizote solo (Costa Rica, Honduras), chic and sis (Mayan), quash (Belize), tejon and tejon solo (Mexico), and in the United States: chulo, chulo bears, coati and coatimundi. The common name coati is of Tupian Indian origin, referring to the coati's habit of sleeping with the nose tucked on the belly. Although coati monde from the Brazilian vernacular properly refers to solitary males, it is often used to denote all coatis. Through usage the spelling has become coatimundi.

Reference Links:

• Matthew E. Gompper, Ph.D.
• The Belize Zoo
• Dr. John L. Sorenson

All pictures are jpeg (jpg) 24-bits, 144 dpi format with 1024 pixels in the largest dimension. Higher resolution pictures are generally available, up to 1712 x 1368, as tif, jpeg/jpg, gif, tga, png, pcx, or bmp formats. Please email me if you are interested in these other formats.

Mexico Photo Albums

• Archeological and Cultural Sites

Tabasco

• Maps of Tabasco
• La Venta
• Comalcalco
• Tapijulapa

Chiapas

• Maps of Chiapas
• Palenque
• Chan-Kah Resort
• Misol-Ha
• Agua Azul

Oaxaca

• Maps of Oaxaca
• Monte Albán
• Mitla
• Yagul
• Hierve El Agua
• Árbol del Tule

Other Photo Albums

• Saudi Arabia
• Northwest United States
• Family