Back to Home

Evolution: Biogeography

The distribution of fossils across different continents provides compelling evidence for evolution and supports the theory of continental drift. Fossils of related species found on separate landmasses suggest these continents were once connected, allowing species to evolve in isolation after the continents separated.

Core Issue:

The distribution of fossils across different continents support the theory of evolution and continental drift. The theory of evolution is in conflict with the creation account in the Bible.

Fossil Distribution Evidence for Evolution and Continental Drift

Species/Group Fossil Locations Age Evolutionary Significance
Lystrosaurus South Africa, Antarctica, India, China Early Triassic (~250 million years ago) Indicates connection between these landmasses in Pangaea
Glossopteris (seed fern) South America, Africa, India, Australia, Antarctica Permian (~300-250 million years ago) Supports existence of southern supercontinent Gondwana
Mesosaurus South America (Brazil), Africa (South Africa) Early Permian (~280 million years ago) Freshwater reptile, strong evidence for South America-Africa connection
Cynognathus South America, Africa, Antarctica Middle Triassic (~245-230 million years ago) Terrestrial reptile, supports Gondwana configuration
Plesiosaurs North America, Europe, Australia, Africa Jurassic-Cretaceous (200-66 million years ago) Shows distribution of marine reptiles across fragmenting Pangaea
Prosauropod dinosaurs North America, Europe, South America, Africa Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (~210-190 million years ago) Demonstrates dinosaur distribution before complete continental separation
Morganucodon (early mammal) Europe, China, North America Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (~205-200 million years ago) Shows distribution of early mammals across northern Pangaea (Laurasia)
Ginkgo trees Asia, North America, Europe Jurassic-present (200 million years ago-present) Fossil distribution shows former range across northern continents
Marsupials South America, Australia, Antarctica Cretaceous-present (125 million years ago-present) Illustrates mammal evolution and distribution across southern continents
Titanosaurid sauropods South America, Africa, India, Australia Late Cretaceous (~100-66 million years ago) Shows dinosaur distribution on fragmenting Gondwana landmasses
Pangaea continental drift animation

An animation showing continental drift.
Notice the formation of the underwater Mid-Atlantic Ridge as The Americas pull away from Africa.
Only an old Earth could explain such a phenomenon.