Final answer:
The landscape when Homo neanderthalensis lived in Europe was colder and wetter than the present, due to the last ice age conditions during their habitation from about 200,000 to 30,000 years ago. Thus, the correct answer reflecting the conditions during the time of Neanderthals in Europe is (d) colder and wetter than the present.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Homo neanderthalensis lived in Europe, the landscape was colder and wetter than the present. During the time that Neanderthals roamed Europe, particularly between about 200,000 and 30,000 years ago, the region experienced the Würm glaciation, also known as the last ice age.
This meant that the climate was much colder compared to today. According to evidence from archaeological sites, such as the cave of Lascaux in France, life during this time was challenging due to the harsher conditions, indicating that the climate was not warmer but colder. In addition, resources during this period were scarce, which often corresponds with wetter conditions that could make hunting and gathering more difficult.
Moreover, Neanderthals were well-adapted to cold climates, having a stocky build, large muscle mass, and a lifestyle that included hunting big game and using fire, which all suggest they were suited for surviving in a colder environment.
The decline of Neanderthals and the arrival of Homo sapiens sapiens coincides with a warming of the climate, which finally led to a landscape different from the one Neanderthals had adapted to. Thus, the correct answer reflecting the conditions during the time of Neanderthals in Europe is (d) colder and wetter than the present.