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Imagine trying to walk across a slippery surface, like ice, in your bare feet. Two things are going to be immediately apparent. Firstly it is unbearably cold. Secondly you cannot move very far because you have very little grip.

Now imagine if you will (however unpleasant the thought) that the soles of your feet are equipped with scaly skin. They don't get cold so quickly, and you can get some kind of grip on that ice.

Here are just two reasons why the snake is equipped with scales. The scales enable it by wriggling its body to gain a grip on most surfaces, even the most inherently slippery. Because the snake is a cold blooded creature, it has to maintain its own body heat. In a cold environment it needs to create more movement in order to keep its blood warmer. Having a coating of scales mean that the friction between the snake and whatever surface it is on can help it to keep itself warmer by movement.

But there is more to come. The snake has no ears, but needs to rely on vibrations picked up through its body to know when food or a predator is nearby. Now imagine that you are walking on that ice with your scaly feet and when you stand still the scales vibrate. Someone or something is on that cold, silent ice within reach of you!

In the case of certain snakes, their scales make it easier for them to climb trees, by gripping onto rough bark areas. The African saw-scaled viper has yet another use for his scales. When he notices a predator approaching, he rubs together his side scales, creating an awesome rasping sound to frighten the predator away.

Because the snake's scales are such an integral part of its existence, the skin is frequently replaced. This process normally occurs four times each year and can be as frequent as eight times per year depending on the age and health of the reptile. It is associated with hormonal activity and growth, so that a young snake will shed its skin more often than an older animal.

The skin shedding is preceded by a period of lethargy, during which the colour will appear to fade. In this period the snake can become irritable and unpredictable. The snake deliberately tears a part of its skin and will rub against any rough surface found in order to shed the old skin, which is normally left in one piece. Although a healthy snake will perform this operation naturally and efficiently, a sick snake may undergo severe stress and tear off the skin in several pieces. Once the new skin, initially tender, has hardened, the snake's activity becomes normalised once more.

Learn more about this author, Colin Morley.
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