Annamite

Annamite is a term derived from Annam, the historic name for a central region of Vietnam and parts of Laos. In historical contexts, it referred to inhabitants of Annam, known as the Annamite people, a designation used during the French colonial period; modern usage tends to identify people by ethnicity or nationality rather than with the term Annamite.

Geographically, the Annamite Range (also called the Annamite Mountains) is a major north–south mountain system that largely forms the border between Laos and Vietnam. It is part of the larger Annamite Cordillera and extends along the boundary between the two countries. The range features rugged terrain, dense tropical forests, and karst landscapes, and it supports high biodiversity with many endemic species, including notable examples such as the saola, a critically endangered ungulate described from the region.

In broader usage, Annamite appears in scientific names and descriptions tied to the region’s ecosystems and biogeography, reflecting the geographic association of the term with the Annamite Range and its surrounding areas.