Question

Fossil evidence has been used to understand the movement of continental plates. The figure below shows where fossils of Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile, have been found. Evaluate the figure and compare Mesosaurus with other species. From the information given, which of the following is a possible explanation for why Mesosaurus is found in a smaller area than other species and why?

A.) Mesosaurus migration may have been greatly slowed when it was forced to share its range and compete with Lystrosaurus.
B.) Mesosaurus may have been unable to spread easily across land because it may have been better-adapted to the water.
C.) Mesosaurus was able to swim from one continent to another even after they had moved apart because it was an aquatic reptile.
D.) Mesosaurus lived for a shorter time than any of the other species, giving it less time to spread over large distances.

Answer 1

B) Mesosaurus may have been unable to spread easily across land because it may have been better-adapted to the water.
It did state that Mesosaurus was a freshwater reptile. Others are mostly land reptiles.

Answer 2

The correct answer is (B) Mesosaurus have been not able to spread easily across land because it better adapted the environment and stayed there in water.

Mesosaurus was found only in a smaller area than other species because it was not possible for them to swim across continents and as a result of this they adapted fresh water for survival. Earlier South America and Africa were joined but due to continental drift they separated and the reptile, Mesosaurus lived in the a particular place and adapted the environment for their survival.