Fossils play a crucial role in providing evidence for the theory of continental drift, which suggests that the continents were once part of a single landmass that gradually split apart. One of the key aspects of this theory is the distribution of similar fossils across different continents.
For instance, fossils of the fern-like plant Glossopteris have been found in South America, Africa, Antarctica, India, and Australia. This suggests that these landmasses were once connected, as it’s unlikely for such a plant to have existed in such widely separated regions if they were never joined. Similarly, the remains of the ancient reptile Mesosaurus have been discovered in both South America and Africa, providing further evidence that these continents were once linked.
The presence of identical fossils on separate continents supports the idea that landmasses have shifted over geological time. If the continents had remained in the same place, it would be nearly impossible for these species to migrate across vast oceans. Therefore, fossils serve as a physical record of how continents have moved and changed throughout Earth’s history, reinforcing the theory of continental drift.