Tui De Roy / Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) dorsal spines, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Tui De Roy / Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) dorsal spines, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Tui De Roy / Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) dorsal spines, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Tui De Roy / Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Alex Hyde / Close-up of scales on underside of Red admiral butterfly wing (Vanessa atalanta), Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK, August.

Alex Hyde / Close-up of wing scales of African moon moth (Argema mimosae) orginating from Africa. Captive.

Alex Hyde / Japanese owl moth (Brahmaea japonica) close up of scales on wing.

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Research scientist weighing Hen harrier chick (Circus cyaneus) Glen Tanar Estate, Grampian, Scotland, UK, June 2011

Alex Mustard / 2020VISION / Detail of the denticles (tooth-like scales) on the skin of Dogfish / Lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK, June

Alex Hyde / Common Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon) wing close up showing detail of scales. Nordtirol, Tirol, Austrian Alps, Austria, 1700 metres altitude, July.

Piotr Naskrecki / Indonesian Forest Dragon (Hypsilurus dilophus) scales and dorsal crest, Papua New Guinea

Jeff Rotman / Scales of a Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), the State Fish of California. Southern California, USA. Pacific Ocean.

Daniel Heuclin / Rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria cenchria) studio shot, captive, from French Guiana

Diane McAllister / Northwestern fence lizard / Blue bellied lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis) sunning itself on a fencepost. It is molting and will consume the shed skin for calcium and other nutrients. Palo...

Pete Oxford / Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) underbelly scales, native to the southeastern United States

Pete Oxford / Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) scales, native to the southeastern United States

Pete Oxford / Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) underbelly scales, native to the southeastern United States

Pete Oxford / Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) scales, native to the southeastern United States

Pete Oxford / Cornsnake (Elaphe guttata) scale pattern, native to southeastern and central United States

Juergen Freund / Titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) portrait, Bali, Indo-pacific.

Juergen Freund / Horned sea snake (Acalyptophis peronii) coiled with its head resting on its body, against a white background. Queensland, Australia

Juergen Freund / Close-up of a Horned sea snake (Acalyptophis peronii) resting its head on its coils, seen from above. Queensland, Australia, February

Juergen Freund / Close-up of a Horned sea snake (Acalyptophis peronii) resting its head on its coils. Queensland, Australia, February

Juergen Freund / Close-up of a Horned sea snake (Acalyptophis peronii) resting its head on its coils. Queensland, Australia, February

Juergen Freund / Guido Westhoff peels dental rubber off the skin of a Horned sea snake (Acalyptophis peronii), taking a print of its skin. The print will be looked at under an electron microscope to find out if sea sn...

Juergen Freund / Researcher Guido Westhoff applying dental rubber to the skin of a Horned sea snake (Acalyptophis peronii) to take a print of its skin. The print will be looked at under an electron microscope to find...

Juergen Freund / Close-up of Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus) head on white background. Taken in Queensland, Australia, February

Juergen Freund / Detail of scale pattern on skin of a young Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli). Queensland, Australia

Danny Green / 2020VISION / Adder (Vipera berus) close up portrait, Staffordshire, England, UK, April

Danny Green / 2020VISION / Adder (Vipera berus) basking, England, UK, April

Danny Green / 2020VISION / Adder (Vipera berus) basking, Staffordshire, England, UK, April

Daniel Heuclin / Close-up of Mountain Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovi) scales. Chiricahua mountains, Arizona, USA, September.

Daniel Heuclin / Close-up of Mountain Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovi) cephalic scales with parietal eye, a third eye central to the head. Chiricahua mountains, Arizona, September.

Staffan Widstrand / Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) in profile. Baltra, Galapagos, Ecuador, April.

Stephen Dalton / Close-up of wing scales of Day-flying / Diurnal Moth (Uranias sp.). UK, March.

Tui De Roy / African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) and Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi), Tumaren Ranch, Kenya

Chien Lee / Malayan Pangolin (Manis javanica) scales, Gunung Penrissen, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Chien Lee / Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) scales, Jakarta, Indonesia

John Cancalosi / Rough scaled python (Morelia carinata) in defensive posture, captive from Australia

Pete Oxford / Close up of skin of Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria cenchria) captive, Ecuador

Pete Oxford / Close up of scales and fin of the Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) Rupununi, Guyana

Pete Oxford / Close up of scales of the Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) Rupununi, Guyana

Edwin Giesbers / Tree nymph butterfly (Idea leuconoe) close-up of wing scales

Edwin Giesbers / Tailed jay butterfly (Graphium agamemnon) close-up of wing scales

Petra Wegner / Domestic Cat, black short haired, too fat / overweight, sitting on weighing scales

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of skin of tail {Furcifer pardalis} green / blue colouration, Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Suraka Silk Moth {Antherina suraka} wing detail showing scales. Maroantsetra, Northeast Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of dorsal scales {Furcifer pardalis} green colouration, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Suraka silk moth {Antherina suraka} wing detail showing scales. Maroantsetra, Northeast Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon {Furcifer pardalis} close up of tail, red / yellow colouration, Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther Chameleon {Furcifer pardalis} close-up of skin, green colouration. Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of skin {Furcifer pardalis}, green colouration, Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Nose-horned chameleon {Calumma / Chamaeleo nasutus} close-up of tail photographed against a white background. Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Jumping spider {Salticidae} covered in iridescent scales photographed on white background, tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Jumping spider {Salticidae} covered in iridescent scales photographed on white background, tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of skin {Furcifer pardalis} red / yellow / green colouration, Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon {Furcifer pardalis} close-up of skin, green colouration, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of skin {Furcifer pardalis} red / blue / green colouration, Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of skin {Furcifer pardalis} red colouration, Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Close up of coiled tail of Parson's chameleon {Calumma parsonii} showing scales and strong green colouration. Tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Close up of skin of Parson's chameleon {Calumma parsonii} showing scales and dark brown colouration. Tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of dorsal scales {Furcifer pardalis} green colouration, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Panther chameleon close-up of skin {Furcifer pardalis}, green / yellow colouration, Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Close up of skin of Parson's chameleon {Calumma parsonii} showing scales and strong green colouration. Tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Pete Oxford / Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) eyespot, Rewa River, Guyana

Mark Carwardine / Chinese / Thailand water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) captive, from SE Asia

Mark Carwardine / Chinese / Thailand water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) captive, from SE Asia

Daniel Heuclin / Asp viper (Vipera aspis) head portrait from above. France, Europe. Controlled conditions.

Daniel Heuclin / Asp viper (Vipera aspis) head portrait from above. France, Europe. Controlled conditions.

Michael D. Kern / Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) showing cryptic markings, captive, from Africa

Michael D. Kern / Green tree python (Morelia / Chondopython viridis) juvenile portrait, coiled on branch, captive, from Australia and SE Asia

Michael D. Kern / Philippine pitviper (Trimeresurus / Parias flavomaculatus) captive, from the Philippines

Tim Laman / Paradise tree snake (Chrysopelea paradisi) detail of belly scales in rainforest, Borneo

Tim Laman / Paradise tree snake (Chrysopelea paradisi) detail of belly scales in rainforest, Borneo

Stephen Dalton / Small tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae) close up of wing scales

Stephen Dalton / Panther chameleon (Furcifer / Chamaeleo pardalis) walking along narrow branch, controlled conditions

Jeff Rotman / Close-up of the scales of a Jewel Grouper / Coral hind (Cephalopholis Miniata) Red Sea, Egypt

Jeff Rotman / Tail fin of Emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) Red Sea, Egypt

Tui De Roy / Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) spines, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Tui De Roy / Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) spines, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Stephen Dalton / Close up of eye of Bearded dragon lizard (Amphibolurus barbatus) controlled conditions, native to Australia

Stephen Dalton / Bearded dragon lizard (Amphibolurus barbatus) controlled conditions, native to Australia

Nick Upton / Male Small skipper butterfly (Thymelicus sylvestris) with clear "sex brands" - lines of scent scales. Wiltshire, UK, June.

Stephen Dalton / Close up of foot of Tokay gecko (Gekko gekko) controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Close up of the skin of a lizard

Stephen Dalton / Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) close up of eye pattern on wings, scales, macro image.

Stephen Dalton / Green cat snake (Boiga cyanea) threat display, from Asia, controlled conditions

John Cancalosi / Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) coiled within itself, Oregon, USA, captive

John Cancalosi / Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) "Smelling" or "tasting" the air with its tongue. Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, USA

Edwin Giesbers / Nile crocodile {Crocodylus niloticus} close-up of skin, captive

Edwin Giesbers / Rhinoceros viper / adder {Bitis nasicornis} skin detail, captive, from Africa

Edwin Giesbers / Canebrake Rattlesnake {Crotalus horridus atricaudatus} captive, detail of skin, from SE Asia

Edwin Giesbers / Close up of eye of Gould's / Sand monitor {Varanus gouldii} captive

Edwin Giesbers / Gaboon viper {Bitis gabonica} skin detail, captive, from Eastern and Central Africa;

Edwin Giesbers / Jumping Viper {Atropoides / Bothrops nummifer} head detail, Captive, from Central America

Edwin Giesbers / Close up of scales and skin pattern of Boa constrictor {Constrictor constrictor} captive, from South America