These stone carvings are typically carved from volcanic rock in the ferocious likeness of an eagle or jaguar, regarding those nearby with a menacing stare baring their fangs or beak open and ready to strike. Each is nearly an effigy of an animal of near life size prepared to pounce and may be rendered in plain carved stone or elaborately etched with geometric patterns and inlaid or banded with gold or silver, though some may be much larger.