scaliness
Scaliness is the quality of being covered with scales, a feature seen in several animal groups. Scales are protective plates that form part of the skin’s outer covering. The term denotes a range of structures with different developmental origins, most notably in fishes, reptiles, and certain mammals such as pangolins and armadillos.
In bony fishes, scales are dermal in origin and lie under a thin outer layer. Teleosts typically
Reptile scales are keratinous, formed from the epidermis and often arranged in overlapping patterns. They protect
Among mammals, scaliness is rare but present in a few groups. Pangolins wear overlapping keratinized scales,
Overall, scaliness is an adaptive trait linked to habitat, moisture regulation, and protection. The tissue origin,