Question

1. compare the following two fossils.

a. what is a mesosaurus?
b. what is a cynognathus?
c. both of these organisms fossilized remains are found in south africa and south america. knowing how the continents are arranged today, why are these two fossils in particular evidence to suggest that they existed together on pangea?

1. compare the following two fossils.

a. what is a lystrosaurus?
b. what is a glossopteris?
c. both of these organisms fossilized remains are found in africa, india, and antarctica. why does it make sense that both of these organisms should exist near each other?

Explanation:

a. Mesosaurus was a small aquatic reptile. Its fossils are significant as they are found in South Africa and South America.
b. Cynognathus was a large - bodied cynodont, a type of mammal - like reptile. Its fossils also found in South Africa and South America.
c. The fact that their fossils are found on continents that are now widely separated (South Africa and South America) suggests that these continents were once joined as part of Pangea. These organisms could not have crossed the wide ocean barriers that exist today, so their presence on these separated continents implies they lived together on a single landmass which later split.
a. Lystrosaurus was a herbivorous dicynodont therapsid. It was quite common during the Early Triassic.
b. Glossopteris was a large - leafed plant. Its fossils are widespread in the Southern Hemisphere.
c. The presence of their fossils in Africa, India, and Antarctica indicates that these regions were once part of a single landmass (Gondwana, a part of Pangea). This supports the idea that these organisms co - existed in a contiguous habitat before the continents drifted apart.

Answer:

a. Mesosaurus was a small aquatic reptile.
b. Cynognathus was a large - bodied cynodont (mammal - like reptile).
c. Their presence on separated continents implies they lived on Pangea before it split.
a. Lystrosaurus was a herbivorous dicynodont therapsid.
b. Glossopteris was a large - leafed plant.
c. Their fossils in these regions suggest they co - existed on Gondwana (part of Pangea) before continental drift.