Go to our classroom site to view the following links.
FRIST: Watch this video about Pangaea:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/earth_timeline/pangaea#p00fztwb
SECOND: Look at this interactive:
http://nj.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.ess.earthsys.biogeograph
y/continental-divide-the-breakup-of-pangaea/
THIRD: Do the activity on the following pages.
Name ____________________________ Date __________________ Period _____ Score out of 40_____
Fossils in Time Activity
Movements of Earth's continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated
changes in climate and geographic connections, have affected the past and
present distribution of organisms. Fossils provide evidence of how life and
environmental conditions have changed.
In early 1915, the German scientist Alfred Wegener theorized all of the
continents had been part of one large land mass about 225 million
years ago. This super-continent was called Pangaea, a Greek word that
means “all earth.” It broke up over time, and the pieces have been
drifting apart ever since.
A few years after Wegener proposed his theory, South African geologist,
Alexander Du Toit, further theorized that Pangaea divided into two
supercontinents. Du Toit called the northern supercontinent,
Laurasia, and the southern one called Gondwanaland.
In this investigation you will use several fossils to try to reconstruct
how Earth's landmasses may have appeared approximately 225 million
years ago.
Fossils are the remains or evidence of living organisms. They come in
different forms, including casts, molds, imprints, amber, and ice of
both plants and animals. Scientists use fossils as a tool to understand
how the continents appeared millions of years ago.
Materials
• Fossil map
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Title Page
Cut out the continents and color the patterned areas
with colored pencils.
Assemble the continents and land masses (Africa, India,
Australia, Antarctica, South America, and Madagascar) together
on the title page. The patterned areas (fossil plant and animal
occurrences) along with the shape of each landmass will
provide clues to how the continents fit together.
Glue and label each continent.
Note: Central American did not exist 240 million years ago.
India was once attached to Africa and Antarctica.
Table 1 Fossils and Where Found
Description
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Mesosaurus
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Locations found
A mammal-like reptile, not
a dinosaur the size of a
wolf
Lived on open plains
Probably warm-blooded
May have given birth to
live young
South America
(Argentina),
southern Africa
(near Cape Town)
Deciduous (loses leaves in
the cool season)
Seed fern
Leaves tongue shaped
About 12 ft (3.6 m) tall
southern tip of India
Antarctica
(Prince herald Coast and
Oates Coast)
Southeastern Australia
(near Melbourne),
Reptile (not a dinosaur)
No teeth – two tusk-like
fangs made of horn
Plant-eater
3 feet (1 m) long
Lived in herds near lakes
and swamps.
Antarctica
(Wilhelm II Coast)
Madagascar
Africa (Eastern Tanzania)
Central India
Fresh-water dwelling
reptile (not a dinosaur)
Carnivore - probably ate
fish and shrimp
Elongated head and snout
with nostrils near its eyes
Flattened tail used for
swimming
1.5 feet (45 cm) long. was
one of the first aquatic
reptiles.
southern South America
(Eastern Brazil)
West Africa (Cameroon)
Name __________________________________ Date _________________________ Period _________
Stop and think (2 points each)
For each plant or animal, explain if it would have been possible for
them to have crossed the ocean if the continents were in their
present day configuration.
1. Cynognathus __________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Lystrosaurus ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Mesosaurus ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Glossopteris
3.
4.
5. Which of the fossils were found in Antarctica?
____________________________________________________________
6. Finding reptile-like fossils in Antarctica seems strange or unexpected. Why?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
7. Glossopteris is an extinct type of plant referred to as a seed fern. These plants most likely thrived
in warm tropical climates. Do any of the locations where the fossils of the glossopteris have been
found seem strange? Explain your answer.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8. How did the fossils of Cynognathus help you construct your map?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
9. Where on your new map is Australia? What continents is it connected to? Which fossils did you use
to help place Australia? How were they useful?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
10. What other evidence might be useful for connecting the continents together into one giant
landmass?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Fossil Map
1. Color the fossils with colored pencils, each in its own color. (1 point)
2. Cut out the land masses and label each.
3. Assemble the continents and land masses (Africa, India, Australia, Antarctica,
South America, and Madagascar) together on blank paper. (The patterned areas
(fossil plant and animal occurrences) along with the shape of each landmass will
provide clues to how the continents fit together.)
4. Glue the land masses in the correct order on the paper. (3 Points)
Analysis Questions
1. What characteristics do you think enable a plant or animal to survive the breakup of a
continent? Think of at least two characteristics. (4 points)
1–
2–
2. Scientists have found Mesosaurus fossils on the east coast of the southern tip of South
America and the west coast of South Africa. Even though we know this animal could swim,
does the presence of Mesosaurus fossil remains in two places support Wegener and Du Toit's
theory? Give at least one piece of evidence to support your idea. (4 Points)
3. Do you think the breakup of Pangaea during the Jurassic period led to the extinction of some
dinosaurs and the evolution of other dinosaurs? Explain your thinking. (4 Points)
4. Scientists have evidence that Glossopteris was found in what is now India, Antarctica,
Australia, and Madagascar. What does this tell you about Glossopteris? What does it tell you
about the climate and environment of Gondwanaland? Explain why you think this? (4 Points)