Scaat Craig
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Silurian - Devonian Chordata | Favourable | — | 2010-07-14 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Devonian · Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Scaat Craig Scaat Craig, located about 6km south of Elgin, is an isolated exposure of Frasnian age (late Devonian) ‘Upper Old Red Sandstone’ which has yielded a unique fish fauna. It has given its name to the Scaat Craig Beds, which have been correlated to late Frasnian equivalents in the Baltic. Historically important as one of the very first fish beds to be discovered in the Moray Firth area, it has yielded a rich and unusual fish fauna of well preserved bone fragments, teeth and scales. It is the type locality for three species, which are unique to the site, including Cosmacanthus malcolmsoni, a placoderm. The occurrence of tetrapod limb bones, the first material evidence in Britain of such advanced vertebrates in the Devonian, adds to the site’s significance and conservation value.