The National Arms of Mauritius
THE NATIONAL ARMS OF MAURITIUS
Official blazon
Arms : Quarterly azure and or: (1) A lymphad or; (2) 3 palm trees vert; (3) A key in pale the wards downwards gules; (4) From the base a pile, and in chief a mullet argent.
Supporters : On the dexter side, a dodo per bend sinister embattled gules and argent and on the sinister side, a sambar deer per bend embattled argent and gules, each supporting a sugar cane erect proper.
Motto: 'Stella Clavisque Maris Indici ' - Progress and concord
Origin/meaning
The arms were designed in 1906.
The ship in the first quarter refers to the European settlers of the island, the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English rspectively.
The second quarter show three palm trees for the tropical vegetation and the three dependencies of Mauritius, the Cargados, Agalaga islands and Rodrigues Island.
The key symbolises the strategic importance of the island. The fourth quarter shows the island as the star of the Indian Ocean.
The supporters are an (extinct) dodo (Raphus cucullatus) and a sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), symbolising the extinct and present wildlife.
The two green sugar canes indicate the importance of sugar for the local economy.
The motto "Stella Clavisque Maris Indici” means "Star and Key of the Indian Ocean" and is based on the lower half of the arms.
The arms as shown by Will's in the early 20th century
The arms in a German album +/- 1910
The arms in the Abadie albums
The arms in a French publication (+/- 1890-1900)
The arms on a trade card
The arms in a 1930s album
The arms on a 1934 coin
The arms on a 2004 coin
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© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink 
Literature : scan from stamp