Why do fish have scales?

We get to the bottom of this slippery subject

Thriving underwater requires some excellent morphological adaptations. One key attribute are scales: strong and durable plates that allow for fluid movement and protection from parasites, scrapes and predators. There are many types of scale, depending on the fish’s evolutionary history. For instance, sharks and rays have placoid scales, while ganoid scales are present on sturgeons and paddlefish. The properties of each scale type are suited to the fish’s lifestyle and habitat. The scales all grow in the same direction, tapering towards the tail to make the fish streamlined. Fish with larger, heavier scales such as the Amazonian arapaima gain more protection but are often more restricted in their movement, whereas species such as eels have much smaller and sometimes microscopic scales that give more flexibility, but at the loss of an…

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How It Works Book of Incredible Earth (Digital) - 1 Issue, How It Works Book Of Incredible Earth 6th Edition

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