What is the national animal of Scotland?
The national animal of Scotland is the unicorn, a mythical creature symbolizing purity, innocence and power. It has appeared on Scottish royal coats of arms since the 1400s.
In Celtic mythology, the unicorn was a symbol of strength and purity, and it was believed that only a king or a maiden could tame one. Scottish kings adopted the unicorn on their royal arms, often shown wearing a gold chain, which some interpret as a sign of the power of Scottish kings, able to tame even a unicorn.
After James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in 1603, uniting the crowns, the royal coat of arms combined the English lion and the Scottish unicorn. The two creatures still appear on the UK royal coat of arms today, with the unicorn on the right in the version used in England.
Unicorns across Scotland
Unicorn carvings and statues can be seen on buildings and monuments around Scotland, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and the mercat crosses in many towns. Some people celebrate National Unicorn Day on April 9.
Did You Know?
Many countries choose real animals as national symbols, such as the bald eagle in the US and the kangaroo in Australia, but some, like Scotland and Wales, which has a red dragon, chose mythical ones.