The Mascarene Islands or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of the islands belonging to the Republic of Mauritius as well as the French department of La Réunion. Their name derives from the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, who first visited them in April 1512. The islands share a common geologic origin in the volcanism of the Réunion hotspot beneath the Mascarene Plateau and form a distinct ecoregion with a unique flora and fauna.
The Mauritius blue pigeon is an extinct species of blue pigeon formerly endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. It has two extinct relatives from the Mascarenes and three extant ones from other islands. It is the type species of the genus of blue pigeons, Alectroenas. It had white hackles around the head, neck and breast and blue plumage on the body, and it was red on the tail and the bare parts of the head. These colours were thought similar to those of the Dutch flag, a resemblance reflected in its French common name, Pigeon Hollandais. The juveniles may have been partially green. It was 30 cm (12 in) long and larger and more robust than any other blue pigeon species. It fed on fruits, nuts, and molluscs, and was once widespread in the forests of Mauritius.
The Mauritian flying fox, also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.
The Mascarene martin or Mascarene swallow is a passerine bird in the swallow family that breeds in Madagascar and in the Mascarene Islands. The nominate subspecies occurs on Mauritius and Réunion and has never been found away from the Mascarene Islands, but the smaller Madagascan subspecies, P. b. madagascariensis, is migratory and has been recorded wintering in East Africa or wandering to other Indian Ocean islands.
The Mascarene grey parakeet or Thirioux's grey parrot, is an extinct species of parrot which was endemic to the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius and Réunion in the western Indian Ocean. It has been classified as a member of the tribe Psittaculini, along with other parrots from the Islands.
Ballophilus is the largest genus of centipedes in the family Ballophilidae, with about 40 species. Centipedes in this genus range from 1 cm to 7 cm in length, have 37 to 91 pairs of legs, and are found in tropical and subtropical regions, mainly in Africa and southeast Asia.
Ballophilus fijiensis is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in Fiji. The original description of this species is based on specimens ranging up to 52 mm in length with 81 to 91 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus alluaudi is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The original description of this species is based on male specimens with 51 pairs of legs and female specimens with 53 to 57 leg pairs. The adult female specimen measures 29 mm in length, whereas the males range from 9 mm to 19 mm in length.
Ballophilus australiae is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in Queensland, Australia. The original description of this species is based on a specimen measuring 38 mm in length with 75 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus braunsi is a species of arthropod in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in South Africa. It has two subspecies: Ballophilus braunsi braunsi and Ballophilus braunsi nimbanus. The original description of this species is based on female specimens with 59 or 61 pairs of legs, but males of this species can have as few as 57 leg pairs.
Ballophilus maldivensis is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in the Maldives. The original description of this species is based on a sandy yellow specimen measuring 21 mm in length with 67 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus neocaledonicus is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in New Caledonia. The original description of this species is based on specimens measuring up to 41 mm in length with 61 to 79 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus peruanus is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in Peru. The original description of this species is based on a specimen measuring 12 mm in length with 43 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus differens is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in Angola. The original description of this species is based on specimens reaching up to 15 mm in length with 47 pairs if legs.
Ballophilus conservatus is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found on the island of Java. The original description of this species is based on a specimen measuring about 15 mm in length with 69 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus flavescens is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The original description of this species is based on male specimens measuring 21 mm in length, pale yellow in color, with 63 to 69 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus granulosus is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It has two subspecies: Ballophilus granulosus granulosus and Ballophilus granulosus holotrichus. The original description of B. g. granulosus is based on male specimens measuring 45 mm in length with 77 to 83 pairs of legs. Specimens of B. g. holotrichus have 65 to 85 pairs of legs and differ from B. g. granulosus in having bristles on all tergites rather than on only some.
Ballophilus hounselli is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in New Zealand. The original description of this species is based on specimens ranging from 16 mm to 40 mm in length with 53 to 71 segments.
Ballophilus tercrux is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus and is found on the island of Sumba in Indonesia. The original description of this species is based on a female specimen measuring 25 mm in length with 75 pairs of legs.
Ballophilus latisternus is a species of centipede in the genus Ballophilus. It is found in Madagascar. The original description of this species is based on a male holotype measuring 20 mm in length with 47 pairs of legs.
