Hainan Island separated from Vietnam millions of years ago

Most plants and animals on China's southern Hainan island originate from Vietnam, which is hundreds of kilometers away.

The study published in PLoS ONE on May 7 can help scientists explain why the organism found on the island is 20km farther from the coast of southern China than the flora and fauna. neighboring Guangdong province, according to South China Morning Post.

Hainan Island, China, has Vietnamese flora and fauna.(Photo: Edu Geography).

The research team led by Zhu Hua, professor at the West Song Banzheng Tropical Botanical Garden in Kunming, Yunnan Province, compares Hainan's flora and fauna to other parts of the region.

"The flora in Hainan has many closest points to Vietnam. If we look at the species that live in both areas, we can find 110 species, but between Hainan and Guangdong there are only 7 species. each other, " Zhu said.

Similar phenomena are also found in animal systems. Research shows that mammals in Hainan are similar to Vietnam. Among 41 mammal species in Hainan, researchers found 30 species in Vietnam.

Hainan Island (red) was once associated with Vietnam in the Middle Ages.(Photo: Wikimedia).

Zhu's and his colleagues' research shows that Hainan Island was associated with Vietnam during the Great Middle Age. Also known as the period of reptiles, this period marked the emergence and destruction of dinosaurs 66 - 252 million years ago.

Hainan Island separated from Vietnam and drifted southeast after the Middle Kingdom until it stopped at its current position. The separation takes place due to volcanic activity in Beibu Bay. But Hainan Island is not entirely adjacent to Vietnam. The northeastern tip of the island is associated with Guangxi province at that time.