On the origin of the recent fauna of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) of Vietnam

摘要

The following types of ranges of the Vietnamese butterflies are considered: 1) narrow ranges of endemic taxa, 2) continuous and mosaic ranges, 3) disjunct ranges, and 4) vicariant ranges. The endemic butterfly taxa mostly concentrate in isolated mountain areas of central Vietnam and show relationships with the Sino- Himalayan, Malayan, and local Indo-Burmese faunas. The ranges of most Vietnamese butterflies, both eury- and stenobiont species, combine the traits of continuous and mosaic distribution. Disjunctions in the ranges of Vietnamese butterflies vary from dozens to thousands kilometers. Similar habitats in different parts of Vietnam may have different though allied butterfly species. The origin of the recent butterfly fauna is hypothesized.