A living ammonite near a New York state lake in the 19th Century

A LIVING AMMONITE NEAR A NEW YORK STATE LAKE IN THE 19TH CENTURY

 

A while ago I found the following story in a 19th century New York state newspaper,although unfortunately I did not make a record of the newspaper title or the date. The name of the paper though was either the Elmira Advertiser or the Elmira Weekly Advertiser which ran from the 1860s to 1890s. However if the report could be verified it would be highly significant as ammonites are supposed to have become extinct around 66 million years ago during the Danian epoch. Watkins Glen is a community at the southern end of the Seneca Lake in northern New York state. This is actually an inland lake and so it is interesting that a living  ammonite, which (as far as I am aware) is a marine animal, was found here. 

 

“The Elmira  Advertiser is responsible for the following statement: ” An extinct species of Mollusk, an “ammonite,” was recently picked up in Watkins Glen near the ‘ Glen Hole.’ Another proof of the wide range of Flora and Fauna attributed to this glen by the celebrated Agassiz.

NO other living ammonite is known according to the books.”