The mesosaurus is an extinct reptile who lived over 200 million years ago. Its fossil remains have been found in Southern Africa and Eastern South America, but nowhere else. Today, we know that these two regions of the Earth are vastly different in terms of climatology, flora, and fauna. How does the discovery of the mesosaurus fossil support the concept of Continental Drift (and subsequently Plate Tectonics)?
A) Mesosaurus was a coastal animal and therefore could not have crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The distribution of the mesosaurus fossils indicate that the two continents used to be joined together.
B) It really doesn't. The mesosaurus was a good swimmer and most likely swam the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.
C) The distribution of the mesosaurus indicates that the fauna of Southern Africa and Eastern South America used to be the same, but nothing else.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of mesosaurus fossils in both Southern Africa and Eastern South America suggests that these continents were once connected, supporting the theory of Continental Drift.

The Mesosaurus Is an Extinct Reptile Who Lived Over 200