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Snakes, like other reptiles, have a skin covered in scales.〔Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India. p. 1〕 Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes, known as snakeskin as a whole. Scales protect the body of the snake, aid it in locomotion, allow moisture to be retained within, alter the surface characteristics such as roughness to aid in camouflage, and in some cases even aid in prey capture (such as ''Acrochordus''). The simple or complex colouration patterns (which help in camouflage and anti-predator display) are a property of the underlying skin, but the folded nature of scaled skin allows bright skin to be concealed between scales then revealed in order to startle predators. Scales have been modified over time to serve other functions such as 'eyelash' fringes, and protective covers for the eyes〔(The Snakes of Indiana ) at (The Centre for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management, Indiana ). Retrieved 14 August 2006.〕 with the most distinctive modification being the ''rattle'' of the North American rattlesnakes. Snakes periodically moult their scaly skins and acquire new ones. This permits replacement of old worn out skin, disposal of parasites and is thought to allow the snake to grow. The arrangement of scales is used to identify snake species. Snakes have been part and parcel of culture and religion. Vivid scale patterns have been thought to have influenced early art. The use of snake-skin in manufacture of purses, apparel and other articles led to large-scale killing of snakes, giving rise to advocacy for use of artificial snake-skin. Snake scales are also to be found as motifs in fiction, art and films. ==Functions of scales== The scales of a snake primarily serve to reduce friction as it moves, since friction is the major source of energy loss in snake locomotion. The ventral (or belly) scales, which are large and oblong, are especially low-friction, and some arboreal species can use the edges to grip branches. Snake skin and scales help retain moisture in the animal's body.〔Barnes, Thomas G. (Snakes: Information for Kentucky Homeowners ). University of Kentucky.〕 Snakes pick up vibrations from both the air and the ground, and can differentiate the two, using a complex system of internal resonances (perhaps involving the scales). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Snake scales」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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