3. Fossil remains of Lystrosaurus (an extinct four-legged animal) have been discovered in India and South Africa. When they were living, all the Lystrosaurus lived together on land, and they could not swim. However, now there is an ocean between the Lystrosaurus fossils. What could explain how these fossils got so far apart?

Question

Responses

a
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

b
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.

c
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

d
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.
India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.

Answer 1

The best explanation for how the fossils of Lystrosaurus ended up so far apart, given the context of plate tectonics, is option a:

a. India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

This explanation accurately describes the process of continental drift, where tectonic plates move over geological time due to the addition of material at mid-ocean ridges, resulting in the separation of landmasses that were once connected. The other options either misinterpret the mechanism or oversimplify the process too much.