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Table 1 Animals used as sacrificial offerings at Candomblé terreiros in the visited cities.

From: From Eshu to Obatala: animals used in sacrificial rituals at Candomblé "terreiros" in Brazil

Family/Species

Local and English Name

IUCN category

Deity offering made to

Number of mentions

    

CG

CA

MOLLUSCS

     

Achatinidae

     

   Achatina fulica (Ferussac, 1821)

Ibi, Igbin or Boi-de-Oxalá (snail)

 

Obatala

---

6

AMPHIBIANS

     

Family not identified

     

   Species not identified

Rã-de-peito (frog)

 

Major "treat" to Oshun

---

1

Bufonidae

     

   Rhinella schneideri (Werner, 1894)

Sapo-boi (toad)

LC

Major "treat" to Nana

---

1

REPTILES

     

Chelidae

     

   Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) – "cágado"

Cágado d'água (Geoffroy's side-necked turtle)

 

Shango

---

2

Testudinidae

     

   Chelonoidis denticulata (Linnaeus, 1766)

Jabuti (yellow-footed tortoise)

VU

Shango

2

7

BIRDS

     

Anatidae

     

   Anas sp.

Pata (duck)

 

Oshun and Yemaja

---

4

Columbidae

     

   Columba lívia (Gmelin, 1789)

Pombo, Irilé (pigeon)

 

To perform Bori. Orishas; "Cleaning"

2

8

   Columbina sp.

Rolinha (ground dove)

 

Oxossi

2

2

   Zenaida auriculata (Des Murs, 1847)

Ribaçã (eared dove)

LC

Oxossi

2

2

Meleagrididae

     

   Meleagris gallopavo Linnaeus, 1758

Peru (turkey)

 

Iansan; Logun-edé; Oxossi

1

5

Numididae

     

   Numida meleagris (Linnaeus, 1758)

Guiné, Galinha-d'angola, Coquém (helmeted guineafowls)

LC

To perform Bori

2

7

Phasianidae

     

   Gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Galinha (chicken)

 

Orishas; "Cleaning"

2

7

   Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758

Pavão (peacock)

 

Logun-Edé; Oxossi

1

5

   Phasianus sp.

Faisão (pheasant)

 

Logun-Edé; Oxossi

---

5

Tinamidae

     

   Nothura boraquira (Spix, 1825) LC

Codorna (tinamou)

 

Oxossi

1

2

MAMMALS

     

Agoutidae

     

   Agouti paca (Linnaeus, 1766)

Paca

LC

Oxossi

---

1

Bovidae

     

   Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758

Boi/Vaca (ox/cow)

 

Orishas; Xangô-Aganjou; Exu de Ganga; to perform Bori

2

5

   Bubalus bubalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Búfalo (buffalo)

 

Orishas; except for Iansan

---

4

   Capra hircus Linnaeus, 1758

Bode/Cabra (goat/nanny-goat)

 

Orishas

2

7

   Ovis aries (Linnaeus, 1758)

Carneiro/Ovelha (sheep)

 

Shango

1

7

Canidae

     

   Canis lupus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cachorro (dog)

 

A manifestation of Ogun (Ogunjá) in Africa

1

5

Caviidae

     

   Cavia aperea Erxleben, 1777

Preá (guinea pig)

LC

Oxossi

2

2

Cervidae

     

   Mazama americana (Erxleben, 1777)

Veado-do-mato (red brocket)

DD

Oxossi; also worshiped alive as a sacred animal

---

5

Dasypodidae

     

   Dasypus novemcinctus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Tatu (Nine-banded armadillo)

LC

Obaluaê/Omolu

1

3

   Euphractus sexcinctus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Peba (Six-banded armadillo)

LC

Shango; Obaluaê/Omolu

2

2

Erethizontidae

     

   Coendou prehensilis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Porco-espinho (porcupine)

LC

Oxossi

---

1

Leporidae

     

   Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coelho (rabbit)

NT

Oxossi

1

3

Suidae

     

   Sus scrofa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Porco (pig)

 

Oxossi; Omolu. To perform Bori.

2

5

Tayassuidae

     

   Pecari tajacu Linnaeus 1758

Porco-do-mato (peccary)

LC

Oxossi

---

1

  1. Legends: CA (Caruaru – Pernambuco); CG (Campina Grande – Paraíba)
  2. Note: Categories of IUCN- LC (Least Concern), DD (Data Deficient), NT (Near Threatened), VU (Vulnerable).