- JAYUYA -- A Taino Chupacabras?
- While the bones of a strange creature found on Christmas
Eve at the center of the island awaits examination by a qualified professional,
its possible identity could be found in books.
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- The animal's characteristics could confirm the existence
of the "jut,a", a species believed to be extinct in the country
and which is studied in Pre-Colombian history classes as one of the species
dwelling on the island alongside the Taino Indians. This creature, also
known as "hut,a", "fut,a" and "dant,a" was
native to the Caribbean since pre-Colombian times and was a main source
of nourishment to the aboriginal peoples of the time. Some historians described
the animal as a rodent with a delicious flavor and also tell that hunting
and consumption hastened its extinction.
- Although there are few representations or illustrations
which describe the jut,a, it still exists in countries such as Haiti, The
Bahamnas, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, albeit in small numbers. In
the Haitian case, international reports suggest that it is in danger of
being exterminated due to habitat reduction, which consists mainly of tree
trunks and branches is dry or wet forests..
- The jut,as are the source of at least 14 species which
managed to spread over the various islands of the Antilles, but only three
are known to survive. These were catalogued according to size, for which
reason the "jutias" or "solenodon paradoxus" represents
the medium-sized rodents, in other words, standing no taller than two inches.
Author Nelson Rafael Collazo points out in his book "Images of the
Puerto Rican Indians" that these animals were hunted for their high
protein value, and to achieve this they employed arrows and were aided
by dogs. In this regard, it contrasts with other versions that claim the
dogs were imported by the Spaniards.
- What has been found regarding the jut,as alimentary habits
indicates that ti prefers rodents, small reptiles and some birds. However,
avialiable information and illustrations do not specify the detailed physical
aspects of the animal, and it is therefore impossible to classify the odd
specimen found under the struts of a recently built house, and which appears
to have died only recently, as a Pre-Colombian fossil.
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- Translation (C) 2002 Scott Corrales, Institute of Hispanic
Ufology.
- Special thanks to Dr. Jos I. Gomez
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- Comment
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- From William Burke
- halfmute@sysmatrix.net
- 1-1-3
-
- "The jut'as are the source of at least 14 species
which managed to spread over the various islands of the Antilles, but only
three are known to survive. These were catalogued according to size, for
which reason the "jutias" or "solenodon paradoxus"
represents the medium-sized rodents, in other words, standing no taller
than two inches.
-
- Author Nelson Rafael Collazo points out in his book "Images
of the Puerto Rican Indians" that these animals were hunted for their
high protein value, and to achieve this they employed arrows and were aided
by dogs. In this regard, it contrasts with other versions that claim the
dogs were imported by the Spaniards.
-
- What has been found regarding the jut'as alimentary habits
indicates that it prefers rodents, small reptiles and some birds."
-
- The translation is suspect, or, more likely, the entire
subject matter. Here, we are asked to accept that the Antillean Amerinds
(Caribs and such) hunted a TWO-INCH "rodent" with ARROWS! Okay...
they were crack shots, but what was left of the animal? Maybe they just
scraped it off the arrowhead and ate 'em like campfire marshmallows? ;
)
-
- Also, this teeny lil dude hunted OTHER rodents, small
reptiles (HOW small?) and some birds? Big ones or little? (Heh-heh....
COOL!)
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