Question

very similar fossils have been found in rock masses that are separated by oceans and thousands of miles. for example, the fossil remains of the same freshwater reptile species have been found in southern africa and southern south america. how can these fossils exist so far away from each other?

a. the land was once completely covered in fresh water.

b. at some point, the land masses were connected to each other.

c. this species of reptile swam thousands of miles in search of a new habitat.

d. identical reptile species evolved separately on the two different land masses.

Explanation:

Freshwater reptiles cannot survive in saltwater oceans, so their fossils on separated landmasses imply the lands were once connected, allowing the species to live across a single landmass before continental drift separated them. Other options are unlikely: global freshwater coverage is unsupported, swimming thousands of miles in saltwater is impossible for freshwater reptiles, and separate identical evolution is statistically improbable.

Answer:

B. At some point, the land masses were connected to each other.