Duende (Forest Guardian)
In Belize the duende is Tata Duende (Nukuch Tat to the Yucatec Maya), a small forest guardian with backward-turned feet and no thumbs who whistles to lure or punish the unwary and protects animals and the bush. Parents warn children against the forest, for Tata Duende is said to steal the thumbs of careless children. He is a well-known figure of Belizean Maya and Creole folklore.