Question

Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species in different regions through the history of life on Earth. The map below shows the approximate arrangement of five continents in Earth's past. The distributions of several ancient species, based on fossil evidence, are also shown.

On which modern-day continents would you be most likely to find organisms that share Cynognathus as a common ancestor?

1Points

A
Africa and South America only

B
Africa, Antarctica, and South America only

C
Africa, Antarctica, India, and South America only

D
Africa, Antarctica, Australia, India, and South America

Answer 1

Answer: A) Africa and South America only

As shown in the map, the fossil evidence suggests that Cynognathus lived on the modern day continents of South America and Africa. Thus, from this distribution and the fragmentation of the ancient landmass into today's continents, result in the distribution of Cynognathus offspring species also only within the continents of Africa and South America.