How are a snake's scales attached to the skin?

JuliusSqueezer · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2002, 11:22 PM

Snake scales are not "attached" to the skin. They are part of the skin which has twisted little folds all throughout which create the scales. This is why when a snake sheds in one piece that the scales don't fall off. Here is a pic taken through a microscope at 40x of a piece of burmese python shed. Notice the twisted thinner skin that thickens into scales....the thinner skin between the scales is more elastic and gives the snake room to expand when needed for swallowing or just puffing up to look bigger and meaner. The thicker part isn't actually thicker...it's just doubled up from being folded