The jaguar was the strongest predator in the Maya world. The stealthy felines hunt at night and stalk their prey on land, in water, and from tree branches above. Distinguished by spotted pelts, jaguars were associated in the Maya culture with darkness, warfare, the Underworld, fire, and water. Their ability to traverse land, water, and seemingly the sky made them powerful wayob (spirit companions) for shamans and rulers journeying across the three cosmic realms during vision quests. A jaguar adorned with waterlilies represents the sun as it travels through the Underworld each night. Here the watery Underworld is invoked by the row of upright catfish at the top of the vessel. Below them a jaguar sits in liquid darkness. Its tail bears fins or feathers, referencing the jaguar's ability to move across elements, and its tail and head are marked by symbols representing brightness. This suggests that this may be a southern Maya version of the Waterlily Jaguar: the sun during its nocturnal passage.