Compre Science:
COULD MESOSAURUS SWIM ACROSS AN OCEAN? QUICK CHECK.
Which continents have coastlines and mountain ranges that match up?
1. Africa and North America
2. Africa and South America
3. North American and South America
4. Asia and Antarctica
The correct answer is 3. North America and South America.
To answer your first question, "Could Mesosaurus swim across an ocean?" -
Mesosaurus was a prehistoric reptile that lived during the Early Permian period, about 299-271 million years ago. It was an aquatic reptile that lived in freshwater environments, such as lakes and rivers. Therefore, it is unlikely that Mesosaurus could have swum across an ocean because it was adapted to freshwater ecosystems and did not have the physiological adaptations required for long-distance oceanic migration.
Now, let's move on to your second question about which continents have coastlines and mountain ranges that match up. The correct answer is option 2: Africa and South America.
The coastlines of Africa and South America match up because they exhibit similar shapes, and when the continents are placed together, their coastlines complement each other.
Furthermore, the mountain ranges on both continents, such as the Andes in South America and the Atlas Mountains in Africa, also align when the continents are reconstructed. This alignment is due to the geological processes of plate tectonics, specifically the separation of the South American and African plates during the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with!