Crocodile Head Scale Patterns Shaped by Skin Mechanics, Not Genetics

New research reveals that mechanical forces during embryonic development, rather than genetic factors, drive the unique scale patterns on crocodile heads.

Scientists from the University of Geneva found that crocodile head scales form through mechanical skin folding during embryonic development, not through genetic programming.
The study used advanced imaging techniques, hormone treatments, and 3D computer modeling to investigate how skin growth and stiffness influence scale patterns.
Mechanical processes, such as compressive folding caused by skin growing faster than underlying tissues, result in the irregular polygonal scale shapes seen in crocodiles.
The research demonstrated that small changes in the growth rate and stiffness of crocodile skin can explain the diverse scale patterns across different crocodilian species.
This discovery highlights the significant role of physical forces in shaping biological structures and has broader implications for understanding skin mechanics in other contexts, including cancer research and aging.