Pavonis

Pavonis is a Latin-derived name that appears in several scientific contexts. The two most prominent uses are Pavonis Mons, a shield volcano on the planet Mars, and Papilio pavonis, the common peacock butterfly. The name pavonis itself means “of peacocks” in Latin, a motif often reflected in biological naming.

Pavonis Mons is located in the Tharsis region of Mars and is one of the Tharsis Montes, a trio that also includes Ascraeus Mons and Arsia Mons. It exhibits the broad, gently sloping profile characteristic of shield volcanism and lies near the planet’s equator. The volcano is ancient and heavily eroded, with a base covering a substantial area and a summit that rises several kilometers above the surrounding plain. As part of the Tharsis volcanic province, Pavonis Mons helps record Mars’s early, long-lasting volcanic activity and its impact on regional geology and topography.

Papilio pavonis is a butterfly in the swallowtail family (Papilionidae) found in Africa. It is commonly referred to as the common peacock, a name that reflects its distinctive wing coloration and patterns in some subspecies. Like many Papilio species, it is of interest to studies of Lepidoptera distribution, coloration, and evolution.

In use, Pavonis functions as an epithet meaning “of peacocks” and appears in several taxonomic names across biology and planetary geology.