Why is the distribution of Osteoglossidae important to the study of Gondwana?

The distribution of Osteoglossidae—a family of tropical fishes—is of significant zoogeographical interest because these fish are found across Africa, South America, and Australasia.1

Many authorities believe that these three landmasses were once joined as a single supercontinent called Gondwana. Because these freshwater fishes are currently separated by vast oceans, their presence on these specific, widely dispersed continents provides compelling evidence for the historical existence and subsequent breakup of Gondwana. This distribution pattern serves as a biological indicator that helps scientists reconstruct the geological history and development of Earth's continents.12