Choose one of the four fossils (Cynognathus, Mesosaurus, Lystrosaurus, or Glossopteris) from the image below and explain how that fossil supports the Theory of Continental Drift.
In Your Response Include:
1) Explain the Theory of Continental Drift (1 point)
2) Identify one fossil (from the picture below) that supports the Theory of Continental Drift (1 point)
3) Explain how/why that fossil supports the Theory of Continental Drift (1 point)
Use the pictures below to help you with your response.
Continents as Pangaea: Continents as they are today:
(3 points)
1) The Theory of Continental Drift proposes that the Earth's continents were once joined together in a single supercontinent called Pangaea, which then broke apart and drifted to their current positions over millions of years due to the movement of tectonic plates.
2) One fossil that supports the Theory of Continental Drift is Glossopteris.
3) Glossopteris is an important fossil because it is a plant that was found on different continents that are now far apart. Fossils of Glossopteris have been discovered in locations that are currently part of South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and India. This suggests that these continents were once much closer together, as Glossopteris plants would not have been able to migrate across vast oceans. Instead, their distribution across these continents provides evidence that these landmasses were once joined in a single continent, supporting the idea of continental drift.
1) The Theory of Continental Drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener in the early 20th century, suggests that the Earth's continents were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangaea. Over time, due to the movement of tectonic plates, the continents gradually drifted apart to their current positions. This theory helps explain various geological phenomena such as the matching coastlines of continents, similar rock formations across distant continents, and the distribution of fossils across continents.
2) One fossil from the picture that supports the Theory of Continental Drift is Glossopteris.
3) Glossopteris is a fossil plant species that existed during the Permian period, around 300 million years ago. Fossils of Glossopteris have been found in different continents, including South America, Africa, Australia, India, and Antarctica. This widespread distribution of Glossopteris fossils provides evidence for the Theory of Continental Drift.
The presence of Glossopteris fossils across these now-disparate continents suggests that these landmasses were once connected, forming a supercontinent. This is because Glossopteris was a land-based plant that wouldn't have been able to disperse across vast oceans. The discovery of Glossopteris fossils in regions that are now widely separated supports the idea that these continents were once connected as part of Pangaea. The Theory of Continental Drift provides an explanation for how these fossils could have been distributed across continents that are now distant from each other.
1) The Theory of Continental Drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener in the early 20th century, suggests that the Earth's continents were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangaea. Over time, these continents drifted apart and moved to their current positions due to the movement of tectonic plates.
2) One fossil from the picture that supports the Theory of Continental Drift is Glossopteris.
3) Glossopteris supports the Theory of Continental Drift because these fossils have been found in several different continents, including South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. This suggests that these continents were once connected and shared a similar flora and fauna during the time when Glossopteris existed.
The presence of Glossopteris fossils in these widely separated continents supports the idea that these continents were once part of a larger landmass. It is highly unlikely for the same species to independently evolve and spread across such distant regions. Instead, it suggests that these continents were once joined together in a single supercontinent and later separated through continental drift.