Which of the following can best be explained by plate tectonics?
A) Most of the endemic eutherian mammals in Australia are either rodents or bats.
B) Fossil evidence suggests that flamingos were once widespread across both northern and southern continents, including Australia, whereas their descendants are restricted to parts of Africa, South and Central America, India and Southern Europe.
C) The Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus) lives in shallow freshwater streams and lakes. Its closest living relatives are found in Africa (Protopterus) and South America (Lepidosiren).
D) Several species of frogs from south-eastern Australia are also found in Tasmania.
E) Eucalypts dominated the New Zealand landscape in the early Mesozoic period.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distribution of similar species across widely separated geographical areas, such as the Australian lungfish and its closest living relatives in Africa and South America, can be explained by the movement of tectonic plates. This movement has historically separated populations, leading to divergent evolution on different continents.

Which of the Following Can Best Be Explained by Plate