S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 47/1-2. (Budapest, 1986)

FOLIA ENTOMOLOGICA HUNGARICA ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK XLVII. 1-2 1986 p. 103-107 Hungarian zoological studies in Vietnam 1. The outline of the research programme and the report of the first collecting trip in 1986 By S. MAHUNKA and J. OLÁH (Received March 1,1986) Abstract: Hungarian zoological studies in Vietnam were made possible through the general bilateral agreement established between the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Centre of Vietnam. Details of the research programme and collecting data of the first trip are presented. Vietnam and the neighbouring countries are among the less explored countries of the Oriental Region being very promising from faunistical, taxonomical and zoogeographical viewpoints. The region may produce many novelties and surprising results. It is of common knowledge, that although this area zoogeographically belongs unambiguously to the Oriental Region, and within this to the South-East Indian faunal province, for various reasons here several effects so much influence the zoogeographical picture in most of the animal groups that it never appears homogeneous. The Palaearctic effect is especially significant in the north, still this region cannot unequivocally be separated from the other faunal provinces of the Oriental Region, at least as far as the groups of Trichoptera and Acari are concerned. Of course, there can be established other effects, too. Among the principal causes is the geographical position of the country itself (a long strip of land lying in north-south direction from the latitude of 8 as far down as to Tropic of Cancer), which accounts for the highly versatile climatic changes (south-western Asian monsoon, north-western winter monsoon). This region Is also extraordinarily versatile especially from geomorphological points of view. In spite of the fact that the land is very promising - probably owing to historical causes zoological research work was started only recently, and except one or two animal groups, no thorough exploration has ever been carried out. It is true, that the bird and the mammalian faunae are known, but there are large and important groups of animals of which we know next to nothing. The potentialities of a zoologically unexplored country have been recognized quite early in Hungary, thus, when the first chance was offered in 1966 the zoologists of our Museum (Gy.TOPÁL, then I.MATSKÁSI and Gy.TOPÁL) were ready to make extensive collectings in Vietnam. Also a Hungarian botanist (T.iPOCS) worked there, and besides his own special research field valuable zoological material was also collected. However these preliminary studies could not develop into a regular programme, and few publications appeared. Recently the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Centre of Vietnam signed an