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The Rodent Trade of Tzeltal Indians of Oxchuc, Chiapas, Mexico

Article  in  Human Ecology · January 2007

DOI: 10.1007/s10745-007-9116-7

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Hum Ecol (2007) 35:769–773
DOI 10.1007/s10745-007-9116-7
The Rodent Trade of Tzeltal Indians of Oxchuc,
Chiapas, Mexico
Felipe Barragán & Oscar G. Retana &
Eduardo J. Naranjo
Published online: 10 April 2007
# Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007
Introduction
Wildlife has always been an important natural resource for
human societies to satisfy their need for food, clothing,
medicine, tools, fuel, and ritual objects (Fa et al. 2002;
Pérez-Gil et al. 1995). In particular, wild mammals have
been a major source of protein for rural societies throughout
Latin America (Ojasti and Dallmeier 2000; Redford and
Robinson 1987; Robinson and Redford 1991). In Mexico
alone, around 100 wild mammal species have known uses
by local communities (Lopez-Wilchis et al. 1992; Naranjo
et al. 2004; Uribe and Arita 1998). In spite of the fact that
small rodent species represent a significant part of mammalian
diversity (Ceballos et al. 2002), the recorded use of rodents
in Mexico has focused on large and medium-sized species
(Guerra 2001; Jorgenson 2000; Naranjo 2002). However,
there is evidence of the use of small rodents as sources of
food, medicine and ritual objects (i.e., Neotoma albigula,
Sigmodon hispidus, and some pocket gopher species) in the
highlands of central Mexico (Mellink et al. 1986).
F. Barragán : E. J. Naranjo (*)
Departamento de Ecología y Sistemática Terrestres,
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur,
Ap. 63, San Cristóbal de las Casas,
Chiapas 29290, Mexico
e-mail: enaranjo@sclc.ecosur.mx
F. Barragán
e-mail: fbarragan@sclc.ecosur.mx
O. G. Retana
Centro de Estudios de Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento
de la Vida Silvestre, Universidad Autonoma de Campeche,
Av. Agustín Melgar, Col. Buenavista,
Campeche 24038, Mexico
e-mail: oretana1967@yahoo.com.mx
Few studies of wildlife use by indigenous people have
been conducted in the state of Chiapas (Gordillo and Retana
2000; March 1987; Naranjo 1991; Naranjo et al. 2004;).
While anecdotal descriptions of rodent consumption and
trade in indigenous communities of the Chiapas highlands
are reported (Gómez 1988; Rittlinger 1963), this study
constitutes the first quantitative evaluation of small rodent
trade and consumption in the region.
Materials and Methods
This study took place in the town of Santo Tomas Oxchuc,
in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. We carried out
36 weekly visits to the Oxchuc main market from
September 2000 through September 2001. From approxi-
mately 7 to 12 h, we observed the rodent trade activity and
interviewed 45 sellers. We recorded the number of
individuals per rodent species traded as well as the biomass,
sex, presentation (raw, cooked), and price of each rodent
offered by the salesman. We obtained a sample of at least
three individuals of each rodent species for taxonomic
determination and nutritional analysis. The specimens
collected were prepared according to conventional techniques
(Hall 1981), and were then labeled and incorporated into the
mammal collection of El Colegio de la Frontera Sur
(ECOSC-M) in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.
Proximal chemical analyses (AOAC 1990) of rodent meat
were conducted in the laboratories of the Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma
de Mexico (UNAM).
We applied a chi-square test to determine the potential
association between the presentation type and the size of the
rodents for sale. The number of rodents sold monthly was
compared among species through a Kruskal-Wallis analysis
770 Hum Ecol (2007) 35:769–773

Table I Number of Individuals and Biomass of Rodent Species Traded in the Market of Santo Tomás Oxchuc, Chiapas, Mexico

Family and Species Common Name Tzeltal Name N Biomass (kg)

Sciuridae
Sciurus aureogaster Grey squirrell Chuch 26 14.59
Sciurus deppei Deppe’s squirrell Chuch 31 7.75
Geomyidae
Orthogeomys hispidus Hispid pocket gopher Baj 330 166.82
Heteromyidae
Heteromys desmarestianus Spiny pocket mouse Kiwoch 1 0.07
Muridae
Neotoma mexicana Mexican woodrat Chó 965 194.93
Ototylomys phyllotis Big-eared climbing rat Chó 24 2.40
Peromyscus aztecus Aztec mouse Yashal chó 29 1.12
Peromyscus levipes Nimble-footed mouse Yashal chó 10 0.21
Peromyscus mexicanus Mexican deer mouse Yashal chó 45 1.78
Peromyscus zarhynchus Chiapan deer mouse Yashal chó 307 20.72
Tylomys nudicaudus Naked-tailed climbing rat Zint chént 2 0.62
Rattus rattus Black rat Caranza chó 1 0.09
Agoutidae
Agouti paca Paca Jalaw 2 18.00
Total 1,773 429.10

of variance on ranks. We also applied a Pearson correlation
test between the biomass and the economic value of rodents
sold in Oxchuc (Sokal and Rohlf 1995). All the analyses were
performed with the statistical package JMP 3.2 (JMP IN
1996).
Results
Biological Data
During the study, we recorded the trade of 6,031 individ-
uals of 13 species, 9 genera, and 5 rodent families in the
Oxchuc market (Table I). Rodents were sold as food either
raw with skin or cooked. Fifty-three percent of all rodents
sold were small-sized (<100 g), and most of them (73.1%)
were sold cooked. The most frequently traded species were
Neotoma mexicana, Peromyscus zarhychus, Ototylomys
phyllotis, P. mexicanus, and P. aztecus (Table I).
We observed that small, cooked rodents were more fre-
quently sold than large, raw ones (χ2 =300.4; df=1: p<0.05).
We also found a significant increase in rodent sales in the
rainy season (particularly July and August) in comparison
with the dry season (Kruskal-Wallis H=17.08; df=1; p<
0.05). Among the three most traded rodent species in
Oxchuc, the Mexican wood rat (N. mexicana) was the most
frequently sold (n=659; H=6.27; df=2; p<0.05). The other
two species were the hispid pocket gopher (Orthogeomys
hispidus; n=330) and the Chiapan deer mouse (P. zarhychus;
n=307). The frequency of trade for the rest of the species
was moderate (n=25–45 individuals sold), e.g., squirrels
(Sciurus aureogaster, and S. deppei), mice (P. mexicanus,

Fig. 1 Sex ratios of rodents

consumed in Tzeltal communi-
180
ties nearby Santo Tomás 160
Oxchuc, Chiapas, Mexico.
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Sep.00 Oct.00 Feb.01 Mar.01 Apr.01 May.01 Jun.01 Jul.01 Aug.01 Sep.01
Hum Ecol (2007) 35:769–773 771

Fig. 2 Localities of origin of

rodent traders in the municipal-
ity of Santo Tomás Oxchuc,
Chiapas, Mexico.

and P. aztecus), and the big-eared climbing rat (Ototylomys we observed sets of 6–7 small cooked animals sold for MX
phyllotis). The rodents with the lowest demand in Oxchuc’s $20 pesos, or six large individuals offered for MX $60.
market were the paca (Agouti paca; n=2), the Northern We found a positive correlation (r=0.96; n=6,031; p<
climbing rat (Tylomys nudicaudus; n=2), the roof rat (Rattus 0.05) between the assigned economic value and the rodent
rattus; n=1), and the forest spiny pocket mouse (Heteromys biomass recorded during the study. The total estimated bio-
desmarestianus; n=1). mass of the 6,031 traded rodents was 808.6 kg, of which
No significant differences were recorded for sex ratios ob- 408.1 kg were cooked specimens, while the remaining
served in the rodent species sold: males (52.7%), and females 400.5 kg (=49%) were raw with skin. Again, the highest
(45. 3%) (p>0.05; Fig. 1). However, we recorded more males values of rodent biomass were for N. mexicana, P. zarhynchus,
than females of N. mexicana (55.5: 45.5%), and P. zarhynchus S. aureogaster, and Agouti paca. These four species together
(57: 43%). In contrast, we observed more O. hispidus females made up almost 96% of the total rodent biomass graded
than males consumed (42: 58.0%). during the study (Table I).
Finally, we found that the meat samples obtained from
Socioeconomic Data rodents for sale in Oxchuc had a high protein content
(78.3%, dry base), as well as a high percentage (86.06%) of
During our research, we observed 45 rodent traders from 29 total digestibility. At the same time, rodent meat was low in
localities in the region (Fig. 2). About 25 of those traders crude fiber (0.93%), as well as in fat and non-nitrogenated
were present in the market two or more times a month, components (wet base, base 90, and base 100; Table II).
while the rest were observed only once a month or when
pocket gophers were in higher demand among local
consumers (July and August).
Table II Nutritional Value of a Rodent Meat Sample (100 g) Traded
The rodent trade generated an estimated income of MX in Santo Tomás Oxchuc, Chiapas, Mexico
$51,841 (exchange rate: 1 U.S.D. = 10 Mexican pesos)
during the 10 months of sampling. The total amount of raw Component Humid Base Base 90 Base 100
(%) (%) (%)
rodents sold generated an income of MX $22,051, while
cooked rodents produced an income of MX $29,790. The Dry matter 38.98 90.00 100.00
average cost of a raw, small-sized mouse (around 100 g) Humidity 61.02 10.00 0.00
was between MX $ 2.50 and 5.00. Large-sized rats and Crude protein 30.52 70.45 78.28
pocket gophers (>100 g) were sold at MX $ 10–30 each. Ethereous extract 5.56 12.83 14.25
The three rodent species that generated most income for Crude fiber 0.36 0.84 0.93
Oxchuc traders were O. hispidus (n=330; MX $10,655), Nitrogen free extract 0.01 0.03 0.03
Ash 2.54 5.86 6.51
N. mexicana (n=659; MX $7,125), and P. zarhynchus (n=
Total digestible nutrients 34.33 79.25 88.06
307; MX $1,761). Besides the sale of individual rodents,
772
Discussion
Oxchuc’s Tzeltal residents traded and consumed 13 rodent
species, which represent 27 and 70% of rodent diversity
in Chiapas state and the Chiapas Highlands, respectively.
For local inhabitants, these mammals constitute a valu-
able natural resource producing economic and nutritional
benefits. However, uncontrolled rodent exploitation may
also have negative effects on some wild populations, such
as those of P. zarhynchus, a species endemic to the Chiapas
Highlands.
The rodent demand in Oxchuc is higher for sets of small,
cooked mice (Peromycus aztecus, P. levipes, and P. mexicanus)
than for large, raw species (N. mexicana, O. hispidus). The
sale of cooked rodents allows traders to keep their products
in good condition for a longer period, facilitating trans-
portation from remote communities. The Mexican wood rat
(N. mexicana) was the species most frequently traded raw
and skinned. These large-sized rats are preferred by local
consumers probably because they supply more meat per
kilogram than smaller species. They also represent more
profit to the salesmen. This result concurs with the obser-
vations of Mellink et al. (1986) and Schenck et al. (2006),
who noted a high demand of Neotoma rats and porcupines
(Atherurus africanus) for human consumption in the Mex-
ican central highlands and in the tropical forests of Gabon,
Africa, respectively. From the analysis of rodent biomass
consumed in Oxchuc, we estimated that a kilogram of rodent
meat costs about MX $ 64, which is surprising because other
kinds of meat (i.e., chicken, pork, and beef) are sold at
considerably lower prices (MX $ 20–40) in the same market.
Thus, the high demand for wild rodents is probably more a
matter of taste and tradition than an economic need for local
people.
The protein content of rodents used in Oxchuc (>78%) is
higher than other local wild animals, such as the nine-
banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus; 22.9%), the
caiman (Caiman crocodiles; 22.5%), the common cricket
(Gryllus peruviensis; 66.9%), and even the red lobster
(Schistorcerca sp.; 67.4%; Koga et al. 1999; Ramos and
Pino 1982; Sánchez et al. 2000). This high nutritive value
of wild rodents added to their economic value, may even-
tually cause an unsustainable increase in the demand for
some species. Therefore,we believe that a program for
sustainable use of wild rodents involving users (buyers and
sellers) should be promoted in Oxchuc, probably through
the creation of a Wildlife Conservation and Management
Unit (known as UMA in Mexico). The creation of this Unit
would imply the development of a sustainable use and
conservation plan for rodent populations currently used in
Oxchuc and encourage further research on the biological,
social, and economic aspects of the rodent trade and
consumption in the region.
Hum Ecol (2007) 35:769–773
Acknowledgments We thank the rodent salesmen and saleswomen
of Santo Tomas Oxchuc for allowing us to conduct this investigation.
Jorge León-Cortés and Brent Berlin provided valuable comments on
early drafts of this manuscript.
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