Hi thanks i believe the reptilian like skull is actually a type of lobe finned fish but there are quite a few to be found up here in scotland i find characteristics that resemble the famous geologist in the 1800's Hughe Miller's illustrations of an Asterolepis in the teeth formations two rows of teeth fine closely spaced teeth on the outside and larger wider spaced in the inside however the skull profile doesnt match.

This beach is rather unique in that you can find both marine and fresh water species. During the Devonian period the area formed part of a very large basin that created a fresh water sea called Lake Orcadia then turned into a shallow sea in the Jurassic.

Unfortunatly it was found among the boulder field where there is a seam of shale most of the ammonites come from this shale its rather oily and fragile but the bones where just among the boulders and beach shingle.

Hey Ben sorry for the delay, thank you for that explanation yes its an odd find indeed and iv had a few experts scratching their heads over this one. The intriguing aspect is its not easily identifiable with any particular common species found in the area nor was it found within the known fish beds of the location but on the western stretch of beach more commonly linked with the Jurrasic shales and not sandstone like my specimen. Thank you for the offer of a CT scan however since my original post my specimen has been on temp loan display in Inverness Museum who have contacted the Scottish National Museum who have made the same request and i have agreed. However i will share the findings on the thread once i hear more.

Many thanks

Steve