Why was the Mesosaurus fossil one of the most convincing arguments in favor of continental drift?
a
The fossils of this freshwater reptile were found in both South America and Africa could not have swam across the Atlantic ocean.
b
The Mesosaurus was a water dwelling dinosaur whose fossils were found atop the Himalayan mountains.
c
The Mesosaurus fossils were tropical plant seeds found in Antarctica, suggesting Antarctica must have once been in a tropical location.
d
The fossils of the Mesosaurus were found in a rock layer that was older than the Mesosaurus itself.
1 answer
The correct answer is:
a. The fossils of this freshwater reptile were found in both South America and Africa could not have swum across the Atlantic ocean.
This fossil evidence supports the idea of continental drift because Mesosaurus was a freshwater creature, and it is unlikely that it could have crossed the vast Atlantic Ocean, suggesting that South America and Africa were once connected.
