When saying scales, the first thing that comes to mind is fish, but in addition to this species and reptiles, there is a whole series of Animals with Scales. Some of them are completely covered with them, while others are only partially covered. Animals use their scales to retain moisture, isolate themselves from the external environment or to protect themselves from predators. Find out much more below.
What are Animals with Scales?
Most of the animals that are covered with scales are reptiles and fish, although, on the other hand, other species also exhibit them in various ways. If it weren't for the scales, some animals would be very vulnerable, since in some cases they are used as protective armor. Reptile scales usually develop on the skin and are made of keratin, the same component from which human fingernails are made. In the case of reptiles, the keratin is much thicker than that of human nails.
As reptiles grow, their scales do as well. They also require getting rid of old scales so that new ones can emerge. Having thick and strong scales is very useful when facing predators. On the other hand, fish scales are highly gelatinous. This type of lubrication enables fluid movement when moving in the water is required. Added to this, it is usually difficult for parasites that belong to a home with scales of such viscosity.
Thanks to the scales, animals can regulate their body temperature, which is why they are common in cold-blooded animals. Compared to skin, scales absorb and dissipate heat faster. The scales also used as camouflage by certain animals.
The Most Interesting Animals With Scales
When thinking about scales, surely what is usually first remembered is fish, however, they are not the only creatures that have them since fish, reptiles, arthropods, some birds and mammals can also exhibit scales. In the following paragraphs we show brief reviews of the most interesting animals with scales:
Cocodrilos
As part of the scaly reptiles we can get the crocodiles (Crocodylidae), which inhabit rivers in America, Asia, Africa and the Australian coasts. It is an animal species that has been present on planet Earth since ancient times, since it made its appearance for the first time during the Eocene Period and the alterations that its morphology has experienced are few.
Crocodile skin is covered with strong, rough scales. Thanks to them, they have the ability to accumulate heat throughout the day, which is why they are often seen lying in the sun. When the temperature drops at night, they try to enter the aquatic environment to continue taking advantage of the stored heat.
Tiburones
Cartilaginous fish, the most notorious model of which is the shark, are covered with placoid scales. This type of scales are, at a structural level, equivalent to the teeth of vertebrates. The shark is a fish that is characterized by having a cartilaginous skeleton, it has 5 to 7 gills on the sides of the head and pectoral fins that are not attached to the latter.
Sharks are a species that is related to rays. There are more than 500 different species and they present a wide range of sizes, being able to measure from 17 centimeters to 12 meters long. Sharks can be found in all oceans and most of them are at the top of the food chain.
Snakes
Snakes are part of the order of ophidians. They usually have an elongated, legless body, a forked tongue, a flattened head (in most species) and huge eyes. Almost 3.500 varieties are known that are distributed throughout the planet, with the exception of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. All of its skin is covered with scales, which can exhibit different colors that are useful for camouflaging itself with the environment. In addition to this, the very hardness of the scales makes it easier for them to move along the ground.
Iguanas
The iguana is part of the reptile genus and the Iguanidae family. It is one of the most popular scaly animal species on the globe. It is distributed throughout almost all of Latin America including Central America and parts of the Caribbean. The skin of iguanas can exhibit various colorations, from various shades of green to brown and leaden gray.
The different varieties of iguanas have in common, however, that they show scales of various kinds. The iguana's skin is covered with tiny, hard, rough scales. Similarly, they exhibit crests or spikes of various sizes on the back, which are classified as tubercular scales.
tuataras
They are New Zealand reptiles, and although they are similar to most lizards, they come from a different lineage. This animal variety is of great interest in the investigation of the evolution of lizards and snakes, due to the reconstruction of the appearance and habits of ancient diapsids (a group that included dinosaurs, birds and crocodiles).
They show a greenish brown and gray color, reaching up to 80 centimeters in length and exhibit a spiny crest along their dorsal spine. They can hear, although they do not have an external ear, and they have a number of unique features in their skeleton, which they seem to have retained from fish through the evolutionary process.
Pangolin (Folidotes)
Under the name of pangolin, several species are classified that are part of the order of the folidotos (Pholidota). They are mammals that are located in Africa and Asia, being animals with scales and lungs. Pangolins are insectivorous creatures that often feed on ants and termites, which they capture with their catchy language just like anteaters do.
The body of the members of this animal species is usually characterized by strong and thick scales that cover practically its entire surface, except for the snout, legs and abdomen. These scales are made up of keratin and help protect it, since they tend to roll up on its own body in the presence of its predators.
Butterfly
Butterflies belong to the order of Lepidoptera (Lepidoptera) and enjoy great popularity thanks to the great variety of color combinations that their wings exhibit. What very few know is that their wings are made up of tiny, thin plates, so they are counted as part of the creatures with scales and wings, added to the fact that they are insects.
The thickness of each scale is only one thousandth of a millimeter. The scales, as a whole, assume various functions such as: presenting the typical coloration of each variety by reflecting light, operating as an element to attract mating or to camouflage themselves against predators, as well as to regulate temperature.
Steller's white-tailed eagle
The giant sea eagle or Steller (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is a bird that can be found on the shores of lakes and rivers in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and parts of Russia. It is predatory in nature and is usually characterized by exhibiting black plumage with stripes on the chest, head and back, while the feathers and parts of the legs stand out for their white coloration. As for the scales, they can be found on their legs, covering their powerful claws. They are very striking due to their intense yellow coloration, the same one that the sea eagle exhibits in its beak.
Rays (Batoids)
Rays represent a suborder of cartilaginous fish comprising more than 500 species in thirteen families. Their closest relatives are sharks. They are differentiated by their flattened bodies, long pectoral fins that are attached to their heads, and gills on their ventral areas.
Woodpeckers
Under the denomination of woodpeckers, various varieties of birds of the order of the Piciformes are gathered. They can be found in almost the entire planet and their distinctive feature is the way they hit the trunk of the trees with their beak, an activity they carry out in order to feed. Like other birds, the legs of woodpeckers are covered with scales in an overlapping way.
Polillas
Moths are lepidoptera that can very often be seen at night, when they carry out most of the activities of their life cycle. They are distributed in urban environments around the world. Just like butterflies, moths have tiny scales on their wings, which are flexible and fragile. These scales give them their characteristic color and, in turn, allow them to regulate their body temperature in order to survive.
pineapple fish
The pineapple fish (Cleidopus gloriamaris) is a unique creature of its kind that usually inhabits the waters around Australia and its island territories, where reefs predominate. The pineapple fish gets its name thanks to its scales, since each one is enormous, added to the fact that they are hard and sharp at the end. In addition to the above, this species exhibits a yellow body with a brown pattern.
geckolepis
The Geckolepis is a class of gecko that is native to Madagascar and the Comodoro Islands. They are nocturnal, arboreal and insectivorous reptiles, which are recognized for their ability to lose their skin and scales when caught by a predator.
rutiles
This fish (Rutilus rutilus) usually inhabits fresh and brackish waters and is native to much of Europe and western Asia. It is a tiny fish, with a silvery blue body, white belly and red fins. The number of scales in their natural line ranges from 39 to 48. Rutiles can be recognized by the huge red mark on the iris, above and to the side of their pupil.
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