Paratethys

Paratethys was a large, shallow, and relatively fresh to brackish inland sea that stretched across Central Europe and Western Asia during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. It existed for approximately 150 million years, from the Late Triassic until the Late Miocene. Its boundaries and extent fluctuated significantly over time, often connecting to the Tethys Ocean in its earlier stages and becoming increasingly isolated later.

The Paratethys was home to a unique and diverse fauna, including various species of mollusks, fish, and marine reptiles. Its sedimentary deposits have yielded valuable fossil evidence, contributing significantly to our understanding of ancient marine life and geological history. The isolation of the Paratethys led to the evolution of many endemic species, some of which are now extinct.

Over millions of years, tectonic activity, changes in sea level, and climatic shifts caused the Paratethys to shrink and eventually disappear. Its remnants can be found today in various geological formations and basins across Europe and Asia, including the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Pannonian Basin. The study of Paratethys provides crucial insights into paleogeography, paleoecology, and the evolutionary processes that shaped ancient marine ecosystems.