Snakeskin

Snakeskin and scales can have varying patterns and color formations, providing protection via camouflage from predators.

[1] The colors and iridescence in these scales are largely determined by the types and amount of chromatophores located in the dermis of the snake skin.

[2] The snake's skin and scales are also an important feature to their locomotion, providing protection and minimizing friction when gliding over surfaces.

They can be striped, banded, solid, green, blue, yellow, red, black, orange, brown, spotted, or have a unique pattern all their own.

These color schemes can serve many functions, including camouflage, heat absorption or reflection, or may play other, less understood roles.

Melanin cells in the skin often overlap and form complex patterns and sheets that are highly recognizable.

Specifically, nerves anchor to sensory spines and pits, which are touch and thermal detection organs, respectively.

[2] Snakeskin is composed of a soft, flexible inner layer (alpha-layer), as well as a hard, inflexible outer surface (beta-layer).

Specifically, the inner alpha-layer contains alpha-keratins which serve as cytoskeletal proteins for a mechanical form of resistance against traction.

It is thought that scale polishing is used as a method of waterproofing, and it may also play a role in chemical messaging or friction reduction.

These holocrine glands in snakes do not have their own blood supply, and thus lie closely with vascularized connective tissue.

[2] The regions between snake scales is made of soft integument called an alpha-layer, which is composed of alpha-keratin that allows for flexibility and movement.

[6] For smooth gliding to occur, snakeskin is composed of sharp spines and interlocking longitudinal ridges.

The snakeskin also contains highly organized 'micro-hairs' along the ventral (underneath) surface, oriented in a caudal (towards the back) direction.

They further are grouped down into the Squamata, which includes all snakes and lizards, and all but two species of Lepidosauria that belong to the Rynchocephalia (the tuatara).

[1][12] Snakeskin is used to make clothing such as vests, belts, boots or shoes or fashion accessories such as handbags and wallets, and is used to cover the sound board of some string musical instruments, such as the banhu, sanxian or the sanshin.

Snake leather is regarded as an exotic product alongside alligator, crocodile, lizard, ostrich, emu, camel, among others.

There is evidence that the harvest in at least some species of snakes killed for the leather industry is unsustainable and carried out in violation of national legislation in source countries.