Fossil Distribution

Fossil distribution refers to the finding of similar fossils on separate continents in rocks that are roughly the same age, surrounded by layers that match each other, and are sometimes found no where else in the world.

This is stong evidence to support continental drift, because some fossils can only be formed under certain conditions that are no longer provided by the continent where they are found. This suggests that the continent was once in a more accomidating place, or joined to another continent so that it was possible for the organism to travel between them.

Examples of these are:

-Freshwater crocodiles found in Brazil and South Africa.

-Glossopteris, a fernlike plant that has been found in small areas in Africa, South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica

-Mesosaurus and Lystrosaurus. Both are reptiles found in places now separated by oceans

This diagram shows the mapping out of some fossils that are found on certain continents, where in present day would be separated by ocean, making travelling in between possible only if they were joined.

This evidence is effective in proving continental drift, because it was impossible for these past organisms to travel between continents over the ocean, so the only option is that they were once joined and are now separated through continental drift.