Why are Glossopteris fossils important?
Glossopteris fossils provide important evidence for currently accepted distribution of continental plates in the Permian period that ended 250 million years ago. The mass extinction that marks the end of the Permian period is believed to have led to the disappearance of Glossopteris.
What do Glossopteris fossils tell us about the early position of continents?
The glossopteris fossils reflects the evidence of separation of continents like southern Africa, Australia, India and Antarctica which was largely separated by huge and wide ocean which was larlier connected with each other.
What was significant about finding Glossopteris fossils on three different continents?
The wide distribution of Glossopteris on different continents at the same point in the fossil record lent support to the idea that these now-separate continents were once joined.
What are the continents that has the fossil remains of Glossopteris explain the possible reason why it was found in many continents?
The Glossopteris fossil is found in Australia, Antarctica, India, South Africa, and South America—all the southern continents. Now, the Glossopteris seed is known to be large and bulky and therefore could not have drifted or flown across the oceans to a separate continent.
What best describes Glossopteris?
Glossopteris, which gives its name to the flora, is characterized by a leaf with a fairly well defined midrib and a reticulate (net-like) venation. G. indica is the last species referred to the genus and to the family Glossopteridales. It is known from the Triassic of India.
What are Glossopteris fossils?
Glossopteris, genus of fossilized woody plants known from rocks that have been dated to the Permian and Triassic periods (roughly 300 to 200 million years ago), deposited on the southern supercontinent of Gondwana. Its most common fossil is that of a tongue-shaped leaf with prominent midrib and reticulate venation.
What do Glossopteris fossils tell us?
Glossopteris fossils were found in Antarctica, these fossils suggest that the continent had a tropical climate because Antarctica was not in its current position long time ago.
What does the discovery of Glossopteris in five continents suggest?
The distribution of Glossopteris across several, now detached, landmasses led Eduard Suess, amongst others, to propose that the southern continents were once amalgamated into a single supercontinent—Pangea. Glossopterids were, thus, one of the major casualties of the end-Permian mass extinction event.
Do the Glossopteris fossils tell us Brainly?
Answer: Yes. Because they indicate biological identity of these plants that were critical for recognizing former connections between the various fragments of Gondwana: South America, Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica.
What is a Glossopteris fossil?
What environment did the Glossopteris?
It grew in a cold, wet climate, while the flora of North America and Europe existed under warm conditions. Plants with elongate, tongueshaped leaves dominated the southern flora, with the genera Glossopteris and Gangamopteris being among the best known.
What do Glossopteris fossils found in Antarctica tell about this continent?
Glossopteris fossils tell us that the continents especially Southern Africa, Australia, India and Antarctica which are now separated by wide oceans were once connected because the large seeds of this plant could not possibly travel a long journey by the wind or survive a rough ride through ocean waves.
Where is the Glossopteris fossil found in the world?
The Glossopteris fossil is found in Australia, Antarctica, India, South Africa, and South America—all the southern continents. Now, the Glossopteris seed is known to be large and bulky and therefore could not have drifted or flown across the oceans to a separate continent.
How did Glossopteris affect the end Permian mass extinction?
Glossopterids were, thus, one of the major casualties of the end-Permian mass extinction event. Distribution of four Permian and Triassic fossil groups used as biogeographic evidence for continental drift, and land bridging. Location of Glossopteris remains shown by blue crosses
How are leaves assigned to the Glossopteris group?
Confident assignment of fossil leaves to Glossopteris normally requires their co-preservation with the distinctive segmented roots of this group (called Vertebraria) or with the distinctive fertile organs.
Where are the fossils of the Lystrosaurus found?
Lystrosaurus fossils are only found in Antarctica, India, and South Africa. Similar to the land dwelling Cynognathus, the Lystrosaurus would have not had the swimming capability to traverse any ocean. Modern day representation of the Glossopteris. Possibly the most important fossil evidence found is the plant, Glossopteris.