The Mesosaurus fossils tell us that
South America, Africa and Antarctica were once connected because
it is impossible for these reptiles to swim over the vast oceans and move from one continent to another.
What does Mesosaurus indicate?
Mesosaurus (meaning
“middle lizard”
) is an extinct genus of reptile from the Early Permian of southern Africa and South America. Along with it, the genera Brazilosaurus and Stereosternum, it is a member of the family Mesosauridae and the order Mesosauria.
What does the presence of Mesosaurus fossils tell about the previous location of South America and Africa explain your answer?
Remains of Mesosaurus, a freshwater crocodile-like reptile that lived during the early Permian (between 286 and 258 million years ago), are found solely in Southern Africa and Eastern South America. … This suggests that
South America and Africa were joined during the Early Permian
.
Why are Mesosaurus fossils important?
Mesosaurus and Its Fossils
And that made it possible to use its fossils as
evidence of the biggest idea in geology: plate tectonics
. Mesosaurus, meaning middle lizard, is the name of a genus of extinct aquatic animals that lived in the southern hemisphere during early Permian time.
What does this information tell you about the land where Mesosaurus fossils are found?
Mesosaurus, (genus Mesosaurus), early aquatic relative of reptiles, found as fossils from the Early Permian Period (299 million to 271 million years ago) in South Africa and South America. Mesosaurus lived in
freshwater lakes and ponds
. Elongated and slim, it measured about 1 metre (3.3 feet) long.
What do the Glossopteris fossils tell us?
The glossopteris fossils reflects the evidence of
separation of continents like southern Africa, Australia, India and Antarctica
which was largely separated by huge and wide ocean which was larlier connected with each other.
What are 5 pieces of evidence that support continental drift?
The evidence for continental drift included
the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones
.
Can the Mesosaurus swim?
Mesosaurus were among the first reptiles to live in and around water, and they spent most of their lives in the water. However, their bodies weren'
t built for swimming long distances
, so they stayed close to land.
Why are Mesosaurus traveled between the continents?
Why is it unlikely that Mesosaurus traveled between the continents?
It could NOT have swum across the ocean
. Why is it unlikely that glaciers existed in South America and Africa recently? Today, South America and Africa are too HOT for glaciers to form.
What is the land like where Mesosaurus was found?
Chapter 1: What is the land like where Mesosaurus fossils are found? Students figure out: The Mesosaurus fossils are found in hard, solid rock on two different plates of Earth's surface:
the South American and African plates
. Earth's outer layer is made of hard, solid rock, and divided into sections called plates.
How do I know if I have found a fossil?
If they are smooth and do not have any real texture, they are probably rocks. Even if it is shaped like a bone, if it does not have the right texture then it is probably a rock. Lastly, paleontologists do a final inspection of
their possible fossil by checking for pores
. … In denser bone, it is harder to see or feel.
Where are Glossopteris fossils found?
The Glossopteris fossil is found in
Australia, Antarctica, India, South Africa, and South America
—all the southern continents.
What was a Glossopteris and why is it useful?
Glossopteris occurred
in a variety of growth forms
. … Before the last of this group finally succumbed to extinction at the end of the Triassic Period, Glossopteris became one of the major features of the flora of Gondwana. The distribution of this plant was among the first evidence for continental drift.
What are divergent boundaries?
A divergent boundary occurs
when two tectonic plates move away from each other
. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common and magma (molten rock) rises from the Earth's mantle to the surface, solidifying to create new oceanic crust. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of divergent plate boundaries.
How did the Mesosaurus fossils get so far apart?
How did the Mesosaurus fossils on the South American Plate and African Plate get so far apart?
Earth's plates travel at a rate too slow to be experienced by humans
. It takes a long time for Earth's plates to travel great distances. The Mesosaurus fossils moved apart gradually over tens of millions of years.
What is the border between two plates called?
A tectonic plate boundary
is the border between two plates. The tectonic plates slowly and constantly move but in many different directions. Some are moving toward each other, some are moving apart, and some are grinding past each other.
