The collective name for the islands of the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia, including NEW CALEDONIA; VANUATU; New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, FIJI, etc. Melanesia (from the Greek melas, black + nesos, island) is so called from the black color of the natives who are generally considered to be descended originally from the Negroid Papuans and the Polynesians or Malays. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p748 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p344)

Descriptor ID	D008542
MeSH Number(s)	Z01.639.760.590
Concept/Terms	Melanesia Melanesia Norfolk Island Norfolk Island Solomon Islands Solomon Islands British Solomon Islands British Solomon Islands

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Melanesia".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Melanesia".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Melanesia".