Tethys Ocean

Prehistoric ocean between Gondwana and Laurasia

The Tethys Ocean ( TEETH-iss, TETH-; Greek: Τηθύς Tēthús), also called the Tethys Sea or the Neo-Tethys, was a prehistoric ocean during much of the Mesozoic Era and early-mid Cenozoic Era. It was the predecessor to the modern Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Eurasian inland marine basins (primarily represented today by the Black Sea and Caspian Sea). During the early Mesozoic, as Pangaea broke up, the designation "Tethys Ocean" refers to the ocean located between the ancient continents of Gondwana and Laurasia.

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