The reason that Meosaurus fossils can only be found in South America and Africa is that the continents were all together at one time and Africa and South America were touching, at the point Mesosauruses roamed in that area, so when the continents split, the fossils went to different continents.
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.
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.
The theory of plate tectonics easily explains the distribution of mesosaurus. When mesosaurus was alive, all of the continents were massed together into the supercontinent Pangaea. Therefor, South America and Africa met because there was no Atlantic Ocean, so the distribution of mesosaurus makes complete sense.
The theory of plate tectonics easily explains the distribution of mesosaurus. When mesosaurus was alive, all of the continents were massed together into the supercontinent Pangaea. Therefor, South America and Africa met because there was no Atlantic Ocean, so the distribution of mesosaurus makes complete sense.
South america and Africa were once joined.
Mesosaurus
Mesosaurus fossils found in both South America and Africa suggest that these continents were once connected. Mesosaurus was a freshwater reptile, incapable of crossing vast oceans, which implies the existence of a single landmass – Pangaea – where the species lived and later separated due to continental drift.
The presence of Mesosaurus fossils in both South America and Africa indicates that these continents were once connected, as this freshwater reptile could not have traversed the vast ocean separating them today. This evidence supports the theory of continental drift, suggesting that South America and Africa were part of the same landmass during the early Permian period. Additionally, Mesosaurus fossils found in Antarctica reinforce the idea that these landmasses were once situated closer together in a more unified configuration. Overall, these fossils imply that the continents were aligned differently in the past, contributing to the understanding of the geological history of the Southern Hemisphere.
because the two continents were originally joined (Gondwana land) and as such share common fossil ancestors
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.
South America and Africa were once joined.
the Glossopteris was a fernlike plant that lived 250 million years ago and glossopteris fossils have been found in rocks in Africa,South america,australia,india,and antarctica.there are other fossils like the fresh water reptiles mesosaurus and lystrosaurus.