Possible co-existence of two species of genus Meleagris at Monte Alban, Oaxaca

This paper presents results from the analysis of 69 bones of the genus Meleagris collected from households and public areas near the Main Plaza of the archaeological site of Monte Alban, Oaxaca, Mexico. Different sizes were observed using a one-dimensional comparative analysis. These differently sized elements were identified as the Meleagris gallopavo and Meleagris ocellata species, suggesting that both species were present at this Zapotec site between the Late Preclassic and Classic periods. The results confirm that in the Preclassic period human activity expanded the original geographic distribution of the genus Meleagris farther south (M. gallopavo) and north (M. ocellata) in Mesoamerica. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.