The explanation is that the two continents must have been once connect to form a super continent called Pangaea. The fossil was part of a herd that probably crossed Pangaea. When Pangaea split animals were on both sides. That is why fossils found in South America are found in Africa.
"Island ArcsIsland arcs are long, curved chains of oceanic islands associated with seismic activity and mountain-building processes at certain plate boundaries. They occur where oceanic tectonic plates collide. Along one side of these island arcs, there is usually a long, narrow deep-sea trench.At island arcs, the denser plate is subducted and is forced into the partially molten mantle under the less dense plate. The islands are composed of the extrusive igneous rocks basalt and andesite. The basalt originates most likely from the plastic mantle. The andesite originates most likely from the melting of parts of the descending plate and sediments that had accumulated on its surface.Which list identifies minerals present in andesite from the greatest percentage by volume to the least percentage by volume?
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As the different situations and events gave rise to the seven different tectonic plates which comprises the over all structure of the planet, as there are a number of geological sites that took there shape because of the movement of the different planetary regions, layers, or the components which makes up the deep down trenches and the islands along with the different volcanic hotspots.
Mostly the subduction region is only due the movement or the sliding of the different tectonic plates which gives rise to a way different catastrophic events like the creation of the seismic way may generate the earth quakes inside the different regions.
Along, with that the different climates across the globe are also due the difference in such geological sites.
The poles receive more direct sunshine so it has to do with the angle that the light hits. The Earth is round and when light hits it the light wraps around the earth. At the poles the light is very stretched and at the equator it is very direct hence it is hotter at the poles.