LUISEÑO ETHNOZOOLOGY
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The Luiseño are the most Southwestern group of Shoshonean people in the
greater North American desert. The name Luiseño came from their having lived in
close proximity to the Spanish mission San Luis Rey (1798-1834) which is located
in northern San Diego County near Oceanside, California. Originally, the Luiseño
may have been called Payomkowishum ('people
of the west') by neighboring people and Ataxum ('The people') by themselves.
The Luiseño occupied parts of north coastal San Diego County and Riverside
County in pre-Hispanic (before 1769) Southern California. It is theorized that
the Luiseño came into Southern California approximately 5,000-7,000 years ago
during severe altithermals (drought periods) from the Basin areas east of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains. Their Shoshonean neighbors like the Cupeño, Cahuilla,
Serrano, Gabrielino/Tongva and Chemehuevi were part of this migration. This Southern
California environment was and is a mild coastal desert environment dominated by
the Coastal Sagebrush Scrub plant community that is often referred to as
chaparral, a word derived from the Spanish "chaparro", scrub oak. The Luiseño
gathered and used a great deal of plants ; but
also hunted and used animals in this environment. Traditional views saw the
plants as a sacred link to the earth producing nutrients directly for herbivores
and indirectly for carnivores. Meat of herbivores, like deer, was seen as sacred
since they ate the plants.
The Luiseño also recognized the interaction of various factors, such as water, disease, predator/prey, and natural burns that impacted the population of game animals on land and in water. At times they figured out ways of improving game animal populations through techniques such as controlled burning. Such management usually increased population of rodents and grazing animals due to the post burn growth surge of herbaceous plants, but it could prove risky if heavy rain followed purposeful set burns. Evidence indicates that varying climates and human use was usually less detrimental to environments than today's developmental impact. Southern California abounded in deer, elk, antelope and numerous rodents, birds, reptiles, etc. on the land with fish, turtles, crustacea, mollusks, and mammals in the fresh and salt water. The Luiseño devised a seasonal pattern of hunting and gathering that started on the coast and lowland lagoon/rivers in the spring; and worked up into the mountains by fall for great acorn gathering festivals. The peoples biggest competition for most of these resources was the California grizzly, which pretty much followed the same seasonal pattern. The animals like humans overlapped the more fixed plant zones, but due to the semi-arid climate many would not be visible in the day. The coyote was one of the most successful animals of the chaparral/scrub communities and has become the most successful mammal in close proximity to humans today.
We will examine the Luiseño use of animals (Kingdom: Animalia), but due to multiple uses the species will be listed by taxonomy, rather than by use.
CLASS: MAMMALIA
ORDER: CARNIVORA (Flesh-eaters)
FAMILY | Genus/species | Common name | Luiseno name | Use | Notes |
Ursidae | Ursus arctos californicus | grizzly bear | hunwut | occasional; ceremonial | Ca. ssp. extinct |
Canidae | Canus lupus | grey wolf | iswut | hide | reduced/extinct |
Canus latrans | coyote | anno | bow case/quiver | ||
Urocyon cinereoargenteus | gray fox | kawawish | bow case/quiver | ||
Vulpes macrotis | kit fox | hide | |||
Felidae | Felis onca | jaguar | ? | reduced/extinct | |
Felis concolor | mt. lion,cougar,puma | tookwut | bow case/quiver | ||
Lynx rufus | bobcat | bow case/quiver | |||
Procyonidae | Procyon lotor | raccoon | pahyammel | hide | |
Bassariscidae | Bassariscus astutus | ringtail cat | |||
Mustelidae | Mustela frenata | longtail weasel | wiskonla | ||
Taxidea taxus | badger | hoonul | |||
Spilogale putorius | spotted skunk | pahlakoomul | |||
Mephitis mephitis | striped skunk | pallakut | |||
Enhydra lutris | sea otter | tukval | bow case/quiver/cape | reduced |
ORDER:PINNIPEDIA (Sea Lions & Seals)
Otariidae | Zalophus californianus | Ca. sea lion | food/blubber | ||
Arctocephalus philippi | Guadalupe fur seal | " | |||
Callorhinus ursinus | Alaska fur seal | " | |||
Phocidae | Phoca vitulina | harbor seal | food/blubber | ||
Mirounga angustirostris | elephant seal | " |
ORDER: INSECTIVORA (Insect-eaters)
Soricidae | Sorex ornatus | ornate shrew | |||
Notiosorex crawfordi | gray shrew | ||||
Talpidae | Scapanus latimanus | Ca. mole | pahmumkul |
ORDER: CHIROPTERA (Bats)
Phyllostomidae | Macrotus californicus | leafnose bat | |||
Vespertilionidae | Myotis californicus | Ca. myotis/Little brown bat | tahvahlukma | M.evotis;M.tysanodes; M. yumanensis; M. subulatus similar range | |
Pipistrellus hesperus | Western pipistrel | ||||
Lasiurus cinereus | hoary bat | L. borealis, red bat similar/smaller | |||
Eptesicus fuscus | big brown bat | ||||
Plecotus townsendi | Western big-eared bat | ||||
Antrozous pallidus | pallid bat | ||||
Molossidae | Tadarida brasiliensis | Mex. free-tailed bat | T. molossa, big free-tailed bat similar |
ORDER: RODENTIA (Gnawing mammals)
Castoridae | Castor canadensis | beaver | food | reduced range | |
Sciuridae | Citellus beecheyri | Ca. ground squirrel | kanish | food | |
Eutamias merriami | Merriam chipmunk | wiskun | food | ||
Sciurus griseus | Western grey squirrel | sokahwet | food | interior/mts. | |
Glaucomys sabrinus | N. flying squirrel | interior/mts. | |||
Geomyidae | Thomomys bottae | valley pocket gopher | mawtah | food/belts | |
Heteromyidae | Perognathus longimembris | little pocket mouse | food /belts | ||
Dipodomys merriami | Merriam kangaroo rat | pa'ac | food | ||
Cricetidae | Reithrodontomys megalotis | Western harvest mouse | food | ||
Peromyscus californicae | Ca. mouse | pahahs | food | P.eremicus,cactus m.;P.maniculatus, deer m., similar | |
Onychomys torridus | S.grasshopper mouse | food | |||
Neotoma lepida | desert woodrat | kowla | food/secondary food/roots | N. fuscipes, dusky-footed woodrat similar | |
Microtus californicus | Ca. vole | yovish | food | ||
Leporidae | Lepus californicus | blacktail jackrabbit | sooish | food/winter robes/1st singer | a hare |
Sylvilagus audubani | desert cottontail | tositut | food/winter robes | ||
S. bachmani | brush rabbit | tovit | food |
ORDER: ARIODACTYLA (Even-toed hoofed mammals)
Cervidae | Cervus candensis | Elk, Wapiti | pa'ashukut | food/skin/sinew | reduced |
Odocoileus hemionus | Mule Deer | sookut | food/skin/sinew/hooves used for rattles | ||
Antilocapridae | Antilcarpa americana | Pronghorn, Antelope | tunlah | food | |
Bovidae | Ovis canadensis | Bighorn Sheep | pahaht | food/sinew/horns |
ORDER: CETACEA (Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises)
Ziphiidae | Mesoplodon stejnegeri | Pacific Beaked Whale | |||
Delphinidae | Tursiops gilli | Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin | food | ||
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens | Pacific White-Sided Dolphin | ||||
Eschrichtiidae | Eschrichtius gibbosus | Gray Whale | kuyoowut | food, vertebrae:. seat, ribs: house frame | |
Balaenidae | Balaena glacialis | Pacific Right Whale |
CLASS: REPTILIA
Testudinidae | Clemmys marmorata | Western Pond Turtle | paa'ila | food | |
Terrapene ornata | Western Box Turtle | pahelah | food/shell used for rattles | ||
Gopherus agassizi | Desert Tortoise | reduced range | |||
Gekkonidae | Coleonyx variegatus | Banded Gecko | food | ||
Iguanidae | Callisaurus draconoides | Zebra-tailed Lizard | food | ||
Crotaphytus collaris | Collared Lizard | food | reduced range | ||
Sceloporus occidentalis | Western Fence lizard | kahselah | food | ||
Phrynosoma coronatum | Coast Horned Lizard | challakkah | |||
Scincidae | Eumeces skiltonianus | Western Skink | food | ||
Teiidae | Cnemidophorus tigris | Western whiptail | |||
Leptotyphlopidae | Leptotyphylops humilis | Western blind snake | |||
Boidae | Charina bottae | Rubber boa | |||
Lichanuria trivirgata | Rosy boa | ||||
Colubridae | Coluber constrictor | Western Racer | kula 'awut | ||
Diadophis punctatus | Ringneck snake | pahhah | |||
Pituophis melanoleucus | Gopher snake | sethe | |||
Lampropeltis getulus californiae | Ca. Kingsnake | tettenglah | |||
Thamnophis elegans | Western garter snake | ||||
Tantilla planiceps | Western black-headed snake | pawvekut | |||
Trimorphodon vandenburghi | Ca. Lyre snake | ||||
Viperidae | Crotalus ruber | Red Diamond rattlesnake | me'qush | ||
C. viridis helleri | S. Pacific Rattlesnake | sowat | |||
C. mitchelli | Speckled rattlesnake | laxwalxwic |
CLASS: AMPHIBIA
Salamandridae | Taricha torosa | Ca. newt | |||
Batrachoseps attenuatus | Ca. Slender Salamander | taboo | |||
Pelobatidae | Scaphiopus hammondi | Western Spadefoot toad | |||
Bufonidae | Bufo boreas | Western toad | |||
Hylidae | Pseudacris triseriata | Chorus frog | |||
Hyla regilla | Pacific treefrog | ||||
Ranidae | Rana aurora draytoni | Ca. Red-legged frog | wahawut | taboo |
CLASS:AVES
Cathartidae | Cathartes aura | Turkey vulture | allowwahkah | feathers/skirt | |
Gymnogyps californianus | Ca Condor | yuna'avaywut | feathers/skirt | ||
Elaninae | Elanus leucurus | White-tailed kite | |||
Acciptrinae | Accipiter cooperi | Cooper's hawk | |||
Buteoninae | Buteo jamaicensis | Red-tailed hawk | kwahlah | feather/ceremonial | |
Buteo lineatus | Red-shouldered hawk | ||||
Buteo swainsoni | Swainson's hawk | ||||
Aquila chrysaetos | Golden Eagle | ahswut | feather/skirt/ceremonial | ||
Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Bald Eagle | pame | feathers/skirt | ||
Circinae | Circus cyaneus | Marsh hawk/Harrier | tokavit | ||
Falconinae | Falco mexicanus | Praire Falcon | feather | ||
Falco sparverius | Sparrow hawk | kallokalliikme | |||
Tytonidae | Tyto alba | Barn owl | chaht | ||
Strigidae | Otus asio | Screech Owl | ammummul | ||
Bubo virginianus | Great Horned Owl | mootah | head-band/taboo | ||
Asio otus | Long-eared Owl | muutamimal | |||
Speotyto cunicularia | Burrowing Owl | kookkool | |||
Corvidae | Corvus corax | C. Raven | kahweah | skin/feathers/omen | |
C. brachyrhynchos | C. Crow | ahlwut | feathers/omen | ||
Pica pica | Black-billed magpie | tookoopoo | |||
Aphelocoma coerulescens | Ca. Scrub Jay | chahish | |||
Cuculidae | Geococcyx californianus | Roadrunner | pooepooe | ||
Coccyzus americanus | Yellow-billed Cuckoo | ||||
Phasiaianidae | Lophortyx californicus | Ca./Valley quail | kahahl | food/feathers | |
Oreortyx pictus | Mt. Quail | kahhahwit | food/feathers | ||
Columbidae | Columba fasciata | Band-tailed pigeon | mahawut | food | |
Zenaidura macroura | Mourning Dove | mahel | food | ||
Caprimulgidae | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | Poor-will | pallakwis | ||
Alcedinidae | Megaceryle alcyon | Belted Kingfisher | |||
Picidae | Colaptes cafer | Red-Shafted Flicker | tahvis | feathers | |
Melanerpes formicivorus | Ca./Acorn Woodpecker | sawlah | feathers | ||
Sphyrapicus varius ruber | Red-Breasted Sapsucker | feathers | |||
Dendrocopus villosus | Hairy Woodpecker | kahwankul | |||
D. pubescens | Downy Woodpecker | ||||
D. nuttalli | Nuttall's Woodpecker | 'iven'xal | food/feathers | ||
Trochilidae | Calypte anna | Anna's Hummingbird | tooshmel | ||
C. cotae | Costa's Hummingbird | ||||
Icteridae | Sturnella neglecta | Western Meadowlark | esahl | feathers | |
Agelaius phoeniceus | Red-Winged Blackbird | pahhemal | feathers | ||
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | Yellow-Headed Blackbird | feathers | |||
Icterus bullockii | Bullock's Oriole | tookoopul | feathers | ||
Euphagus cyanocephalus | Brewer's Blackbird | pahhemal | |||
Molothrus ater | Cowbird | ||||
Fringillidae | Pheucticus melanocephalus | Black-Headed Grosbeak | pahhah | ||
Carpodacus purpureus | Ca. Purple Finch | yowyellah | |||
Spinus tristis | Goldfinch | ||||
Pipilo fuscus | Brown Towhee | topnel | |||
Amphispiza belli | Sage Sparrow | ||||
Melospiza melodia | Song Sparrow | ||||
Zonotrichia atricapilla | Golden-Crowned Sparrow | ||||
Thraupidae | Piranga ludoviciana | Western Tanager | |||
Tyrannidae | Tyrannus verticalis | Western Kingbird | chakamel | ceremonial | |
Empidonax minimus | Least Flycatcher | ||||
Alaudidae | Eremophil alpestris | Horned Lark | |||
Hirundinidae | Hirundo rustica | Barn Swallow | palismel | ||
Paridae | Parus gambeli | Mt. Chickadee | |||
P. inornatus | Plain Titmouse | yohwihwal | |||
Sittidae | Sitta aculeata | Nuthatch | |||
Chamaeidae | Chamaea fasciata | Wrentit | |||
Troglodytidae | Campylorhynchus brunneicapillum | Cactus Wren | |||
Catherpus mexicanus | Canon Wren | ||||
Mimidae | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbird | tahmahwit | ||
Toxostoma redivivum | Ca. Thrasher | ||||
Turdidae | Hylocichla guttata | Hermit Thrush | |||
Sialia mexicana | Western Bluebird | ||||
Vireonidae | Vireo bellii | Bell's Vireo | |||
Parulidae | Dendroica petechia | Yellow Warbler | |||
Icteria virens | Yellow-breasted Chat | ||||
Sylviidae | Polioptila caerulea | Gnatcatcher | |||
Gruidae | Grus canadensis | Sandhill Crane | quaruut | 1st Dancer,whistle | |
Ardeidae | Areda herodias | Great Blue Heron | qwa'qwaiwut | whistle | |
Butorides virescens | Green Heron | ||||
Casmerodius albus | C. Egret | ||||
Nycticorax nycticorax | Black-Crowned Night Heron | ||||
Anserinae | Branta candensis | Canada Goose | la'la | food | |
Chen hyperborea | White Brant/Snow Goose | weesal | food | ||
Anatinae | Anas platyrhynchos | Mallard Duck | qaatqat | food | |
Anas acuta | Pintail | food | |||
Anus discors | Blue-Winged Teal | food | |||
Anas cyanoptera | Cinnamon Teal | food | |||
Aythyinae | Bucephala clangula | C. Goldeneye | food | ||
Melanitta perspicillata | Surf Scooter | ||||
Oxyurinae | Oxyura jamaicensis | Ruddy Duck | |||
Rallidae | Rallus longirostris | Ca. Clapper Rail | |||
Fulica americana | Am. Coot | shayla | food | ||
Charadriidae | Charadrius vociferus | Killdeer | |||
Arenaria melanocephala | Black Turnstone | ||||
Scolopacidae | Totanus melanoleucus | Greater Yellowlegs | |||
Ereunetes mauri | Western Sandpiper | ||||
Recurvirostridae | Recurvirostra americana | Am. Avocet | |||
Larinae | Larus californicus | Ca Gull | |||
Sterninae | Sterna albifrons | Least Tern | |||
Podicipedidae | Aechmophorus occidentalis | Western Grebe | |||
Pelecanidae | Pelecanus occidentalis | Brown Pelican | 'ataal | robes/ food/omen | |
Phalacrocoracidae | Phalacrocorax auritis | Double Crested Cormorant | food/ eggs |
CLASS: OSTEICHTHYES (Boney Fishes)
Salmonidae | Oncorhynchus kisutch | Coho Salmon | S. CA range uncertain | ||
Salmo gairdneri | Rainbow Trout | food | |||
Catostomidae | Catostomus commersoni | White Sucker | food | ||
Atherinidae | Leuresthes tenuis | Ca Grunion | food | ||
Atherinopsis califoriensis | Jacksmelt | food | |||
Percichthyidae | Morone saxatilis | Striped Bass | food | ||
Paralabrax clathratus | Kelp Bass | food | |||
Embiotocidae | Amphistichus argenteus | Barred Surfperch | food | ||
Mugilidae | Mugil cephalus | Striped Mullet | |||
Dasyatidae | Myliobatis californicus | Ca Stingray | wollumal |
PHYLUM:MOLLUSCA (Mollusks)
Haliotidae | Haliotis cracherodii | Black Abalone | 'ayla | food/jewelry/dishes | |
H. rufescens | Red Abalone | qexl | food/jewelry/dishes | ||
Cypraeidae | Cypraea spadicea | Chestnut Cowrie | |||
Olividae | Olivela biplicata | Purple Olive | beads/jewelry/money | disc made from thickest section of shell; major form of money for ranking families | |
Mytilidae | Mytilus edulis | Common Blue Mussel | food/utensils | ||
Pectinidae | Argopecten circularis | Pacific Calico Scallop | food | ||
Leptopecten latiauratus | Kelp-weed Scallop | food | |||
Ostreidae | Ostrea lurida | Ca. Oyster | food | ||
Mactridae | Tresus nutalli | Pacific Gaper Clam | food | ||
Donacidae | Donax californicus | Ca Donax | food/jewelry | ||
Veneridae | Tivela stultorum | Pismo Clam | food | ||
Turbinidae | Astraea undosa | Wavy Turban | |||
Acamaeidae | Fissurella volcano | Volcano Limpet | food | ||
Megathura crenulata | Great Keyhole Limpet | food | |||
Cephalopoda | Octopus dofleini | Pacific Octopus | food | ||
CLASS:INCECTA (Insects)
Danaidae | Danaus plexippus | Monarch | |||
Nymphalidae | Euphydryas chalcedona | Checkerspot | |||
Nymphaltis antiopa | Mourning Cloak | ||||
Pieridae | Colias eurytheme | Orange Sulfur | |||
Papilionidae | Papilio polyxenes | Black Swallowtail | |||
Hesperiidae | Eparrgyreus clarus | Silver-spotted Skipper | |||
Sphingidae | Manduca sexta | Sphinx moth | cocoon rattles | ||
Ceanothus silk moth | cocoon rattles | ||||
Tenebrionidae | Coelocnemis californicus | Broad-necked Darkling Beetle | |||
Coccinellidae | Adalia frigida | Two-spotted Ladybird Beetle | |||
Phengodidae | Melanactes sp. | Glow worm (Larval stage) | kaarawut | ceremonial | |
Formicidae | Pogonomyrmex californicus | Harvester Ant | 'aanat | Boys' puberty ordeal | |
Camponotus sp. | Black Carpenter Ant | lamaqqat | |||
Limotopum occidentalis | Tree Ant | wiyawic | |||
Dorymyrmex pyramicus | Black lion Ant | tuumalum | |||
Pediculidae | Pediculus humanus | Body Louse | salat | ||
Belostomatidae | Lethocerus americanus | Giant Water Bug | tcorwumal | ||
Andrenidae | Andrena transnigra | Burrowing Bee | suka | food-honey | |
Sphecidae | Sphex sp | Digger Wasp | |||
Hemipepsis formosa | Tarantula Hawk Wasp | pu'ulakwic | |||
Gryllidae | Gryllus pennsylvancus | Field Cricket | sulkal | food | |
Oecanthus californicus | Ca Tree Cricket | shulkul | |||
Gryllotalpidae | Gryllotalpa sp | Mole Cricket | |||
Tettigoniidae | Microcentrum californicum | Ca Katydid | sulqual | 1st basketmaker | |
Gerridae | Gerris sp | Waterstrider | |||
Calliphoridae | Calliphora vomitoria | Blue bottle fly/blow fly | sariiwut | ceremonial | |
Phaenica sericata | Green bottle fly |
CLASS: ARACHNIDA (Arachnids)
Araneidae | Argiope trifasciata | Orb weaver | kuye'eewut | ||
Argasidae | Ornithodous taricata | adobe tick | toroshanat | ||
Lycosidae | Lycosa sp. | California wolf spider | paakukat | ||
Theridiidae | Latrodectus mactans | Black widow | kuyximic | ||
Scorpiones | Centruroides sp | Scorpion | suyla | ||
Ctenizidae | Bothriocyrtum californicum | California trap-door spider | naavayut | ||
Theraphosidae | Dugesiella sp | American tarantula | monnawut |
CLASS: CHILOPODA AND DIPLOPODA (Centipedes and Millipedes)
Scolopendridae | Scolopendra polymorpha | Centipede | waqpic | ||
Spirobolidae | Hiltonius pulchrus | Millepede | |||
CLASS: OLIGOCHAETA (Earthworms and Freshwater Worms)
Megascolecidae | Argilophilus sp. | Native earthworm | |||
Ocnerodrilinae | Ocnerodrilus sp. | Fresh water earthworm |
Revised 2009: Copyright © S.J. Crouthamel