Key Info

- Small forest spirit that protects animals and the jungle

- Missing thumbs and has backwards feet

- Will break/cut off kids thumbs if he sees them

Brief Bio

In Mesoamerican folklore, particularly among Mayan and Mestizo cultures in Belize, Tata Duende is a mischievous, dwarf-like creature, often described as a guardian of the forest. He is depicted as a short, old man with backward-facing feet, a large red hat, and sometimes with no thumbs. While sometimes portrayed as a protector of animals and the forest, he is also known for his mischievous and even malevolent actions, often used to scare children.