World distribution of middle Jurassic ammonites (Upper Aalenian to Middle Bathonian): relationships between biodiversity and palaeogeography

Abstract The break up of the Pangea takes place in the Jurassic; the palaeoceanographic consequences are the opening of seaways, particularly at the place of the future Atlantic and Indian oceanic areas. During the Toarcian, and from the late Aalenian to the middle Bathonian, the so-called “Hispanic corridor” (or “Atlantic seaway”) exists between the “western Tethys” and the “American Pacific border”, through the “Caribbean Tethys”. Two additional seaways which play as by-passes of the Pangea are proposed, one along the northern border of Laurasia (Boreal sea), and a second along the southern border of Gondwana (South Pacific Sea); however, if these two last could be effectively used for fa…