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What fossils provide evidence for continental drift?
Fossils of the Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile, and Glossopteris, a seed fern, provide significant evidence for continental drift. Mesosaurus fossils have been found in both South America and Africa, suggesting these continents were once connected, as this species could not have traversed vast oceans. Similarly, the distribution of Glossopteris fossils across Africa, South America, Antarctica, India, and Australia supports the idea of a supercontinent, as its seeds would not have been able to spread over such distances. These fossil distributions align with the theory of plate tectonics and the historical movement of continents.
How did Wagner use fossil evidence to support his theory for Pangaea?
Alfred Wegener used fossil evidence to support his theory of Pangaea by demonstrating that identical fossil species, such as the freshwater reptile Mesosaurus and the seed fern Glossopteris, were found on continents now widely separated by oceans. This distribution suggested that these continents were once joined, allowing species to inhabit a continuous landmass. Additionally, he highlighted similarities in fossilized flora and fauna across continents, indicating a shared biological history that could only be explained by the existence of Pangaea. This fossil evidence bolstered his argument for continental drift, which was a key component of the Pangaea hypothesis.
What are Types of fossils found from continental drift?
Fossils found as evidence of continental drift include similar species of plants and animals on continents now separated by vast oceans, such as the Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile found in both South America and Africa. Additionally, fossils of the ancient plant Glossopteris have been discovered across continents like Africa, South America, Antarctica, and India, supporting the idea of a once-connected landmass. These fossils indicate that the continents were once joined, allowing species to inhabit a continuous environment before drifting apart.
What was the fossil that was found on different continents and was used to support the theory of continental drift?
The fossil that was found on different continents and used to support the theory of continental drift is the Mesosaurus. This extinct freshwater reptile had limited swimming abilities, making it unlikely that it could have crossed vast oceans. Its distribution on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean provided evidence of land connections that later formed the basis for the theory of continental drift.
How did seafloor spreading help prove continental drift was true?
Evidence for continental drift is now extensive. Similar plant and animal fossils are found around different continent shores, suggesting that they were once joined. The fossils of the freshwater crocodile, found both in Brazil and South Africa, are one example; another is the discovery of fossils of the aquatic reptile Lystrosaurus from rocks of the same age from locations in South America, Africa, and Antarctica. There is also living evidence --- the same animals being found on two continents. An example of this is a particular earthworm found in South America and South Africa. The complementary arrangement of the facing sides of South America and Africa is obvious, but is a temporary coincidence. In millions of years, seafloor spreading, continental drift, and other forces of tectonophysics will further separate and rotate those two continents. It was this temporary feature which inspired Wegener to study what he defined as continental drift, although he did not live to see his hypothesis become generally accepted. It's generally saying that fossils have been found on landmasses far away from each other but because of seafloor spreading the continents could have once been connected.
What is the geographic distribution of the swimming reptile Mesosaurus provides evidence?
The geographic distribution of the swimming reptile Mesosaurus provides evidence that supports continental drift. Fossils belonging to the Mesosaurus were found far away from each other, in both South Africa and South America.
What key evidence supports the hypothesis of continental drift?
fossils of the reptile mesosoaurus have been found in south america and Africa. it probably coldnt swim between the conmtinents. scientist theorized that this reptile live.... more
How can Glossopteris an ancient plant and Mesosaurus an ancient reptile be used as evidence for continental drift?
it can be used as evidence because they are old and moved from one place to another by the power of the ocean.
What evidence does the geographic distribution of the swimming reptile Mesosaurus provide?
South America and Africa were once joined.
What evidence did Alfred we genre use to support his theory of continental?
Wegener knew that fossil plants and animals such as mesosaurs, a freshwater reptile found only South America and Africa during the Permian period, could be found on many continents.
The geographic distribution of the swimming reptile Mesosaurus provides evidence that .?
South america and Africa were once joined.
Name a fossil that was found on different continents and was used to support the theory of continental drift?
The fossil of Mesosaurus, a small aquatic reptile, was found in both South America and Africa. Its presence on different continents was used as evidence to support the theory of continental drift, as it suggested that the continents were once connected and later drifted apart.
Where did Alfred wegener find fossils of mesosaurus?
He found the fossils in Africa and South America, it was a major piece of evidence supporting his theory on the continental drift. Since the Mesosaurus was a fresh water reptile, there was no way it could've swam across the Atlantic Ocean (which has salt water) to both continents. So that meant Africa and South America were at one point joined together.Mesosaurus was a small reptile that swam in shallow coastal waters about 275 million years ago. It couldn't have crossed an ocean, yet Mesosaurus fossils are found in both South America and Africa.
What is evidence for continental drift?
Early maps of the world caused Alfred Wegner to propose the Continental Drift Theory. The continents looked as though they might fit together like puzzle pieces. The original supercontinent was named Pangaea by Wegner. In Greek, "pan" mean ALL, and "gea" means EARTH. There is also fossil evidence, and climatic evidence.Fossil Evidence:-Similar fossils occur in various locations around the world.-Mesosauras (a freshwater reptile) fossils are only found in South America, and Africa.-Other fossils are found throughout the Southern Hemisphere.Climatic Evidence:-When glaciers advance or retreat they mark the land.-Evidence of glaciers were found in parts of Africa and India.-If all continents were close to the South Pole, Glaciation is possible.
In what ways do fossils help support the hypothesis of continental drift?
Fossils of the reptile Mesosaurus have been found in South America and Africa. It probably couldn't swim between the continents. Scientists theorized that this reptile lived on both continents when they were joined. All continents were once part of a large landmass, called Pangea, that broke apart 250-million years ago.
What ways do the fossils help support the hypothesis of continental drift?
Fossils of the reptile Mesosaurus have been found in South America and Africa. It probably couldn't swim between the continents. Scientists theorized that this reptile lived on both continents when they were joined. All continents were once part of a large landmass, called Pangea, that broke apart 250-million years ago.
What is an explanation of why bird wings and reptile forelegs are evidence of evolution?
Homologous structures indicate a common ancestor
