Book 32, Question 8
Why are some lizard scales bumpy and others smooth?
Different scales do different jobs.
Smooth scales help skinks slip through leaves and burrows without snagging. Scales with a small ridge down the middle, called keeled scales, can give grip and make a surface look less shiny. Tiny granular scales, like on a gecko, give skin a soft, bumpy look. The shape of a scale can tell you how an animal lives.