Scale Sampler.

Ever see a dragon with scales that looked somehow...wrong? Ever notice that, hey, lizard skin is not the same as snake skin? You're probably right in any case; most people seem to think that scales are scales.

Is all fur just fur to you people, too? Hell, being one of the oldest and most common coverings on animals, scales have even more diversity than fur. Check out the variety above!

BEFORE you scroll down to learn what all of these scales came from, GUESS. You will probably be amazed.

1. Asian arowana.
These actually have really neat scales outside of being a "fish" demo, which I am sure will kill me for. Chinese dragon scales are derived from piscine scales, not reptilian. They are also bitchingly complex in their numerology; let's not get into that. (Also, let's not get into the Korean imugi; one book I read said that Chinese dragons "evolve" from snakes. That's only in Korea. Magikarp would like to have a word with you.)

2. Pangolin (Manis) scales. Yes, this body covering belongs to a mammal.

3. Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). Note the beaded look; it's VERY different from the typical 'armored' scales that you see so very often. Its scientific name literally means "studded skin."

4. Reticulated python (P. reticulatus). Check out the shine and be jealous; mammals are full of pigment fail.

5. Rattlesnake (I think it's Crotalus adamanteus) scales. They're keeled and almost like flat little feathers in shape. Not all venomous snakes have keeled scales, but a lot of them do (especially in vipers). Some even have scales that make noise!

6. Green iguana (Iguana iguana) scales. FAR more tesselated than the Gila in #3. This is one of the more typical scale types in lizards, but do your research; many geckos sport studded skin like the Gila monster.

7. Skin from a Triceratops - fossilized, but gives a good idea of the texture. It's not quite like lizard skin, but probably shed the same way (that is, in flaky little pieces).

8. Milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) scales. These are a bit more rounded and narrow than the python scales. Some colubrid scales are also keeled.

9. Crocodilian skin. It starts out looking like a tougher version of the Gila monster's skin, but as it approaches the back and underbelly, it resembles segmented armor.

I did not take any of the photos here, just compiled them. Believe me, if I had a retic, crocodile, rattlesnake or arowana, I would GLADLY photograph it for you. This is to be used for reference only; I made it solely for your convenience. Apparently no one has done this yet. I tried Googling.