What evidence did Wegener cite for continental drift?

• A. Fossils and matching rock types on neighboring continents currently separated by vast oceans (eg South America&Africa)
• B. Seafloor mapping revealed mid-ocean ridges and trenches
• C. Fossils were found only on one side of oceans
• D. Fossils and rock types varied greatly across oceans

Answer: (D)

Wegener argued that the continents were once together because the same fossils and rock patterns appear on landmasses that are now oceans apart. He pointed to identical fossils found on continents like Africa and South America (for example, Mesosaurus and Cynognathus) and to widespread plant fossils such as Glossopteris across Africa, South America, India, Antarctica, and Australia. He also emphasized the way rock types and ancient mountain belts line up when the continents are reassembled, such as the fit between the Appalachian region and coastal belts in western Europe and Greenland. This combination of matching fossils and geology across oceans suggested a shared, now-broken-up landmass. Saying fossils are found only on one side or that fossils and rocks vary greatly across oceans doesn’t fit his argument. Seafloor mapping and mid-ocean ridges came later and added support for the idea, but they weren’t the evidence Wegener used.