What distinctive feature supports the theory of continental drift related to coastlines?

The distinctive feature that supports the theory of continental drift related to coastlines is the concept of matching coastlines resembling a jigsaw puzzle. This idea suggests that the continents were once part of a larger supercontinent and have since drifted apart. The shapes of the coastlines of South America and Africa, for instance, fit together much like the pieces of a puzzle. This visual evidence provides a compelling argument that the continents were once connected and have moved to their current positions over geological time.

While identical species across oceans, similar rock formations on different continents, and common climate patterns can also support the theory of continental drift, they do not directly illustrate the physical movement and arrangement of landmasses in the same clear way that the jigsaw puzzle analogy does. The matching coastlines provide a straightforward visual representation of continental drift, making this feature particularly significant in understanding the historical movement of the Earth's plates.