Crocodilian Molting: An Intriguing Question in Reptile Biology

[tribdog]

Just curious.
Do crocodiles molt?

 

[mgb_phys]

no

Their skin is covered with non-overlapping scales composed of the protein keratin and often studded with bony plates called scutes. (Lizard scales are similar, but lack the bony plates.) The scales are shed individually, so crocodilians do not molt (shed their skin all at once) like snakes do.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Crocodilia.html

 

[tribdog]

thank you. Too bad though.
Do any reptiles with legs molt?

 

[mgb_phys]

Well it does mean that if you see a crocodile skin by the side of the river that it contains a crocodile - which might come in useful !

 

[tribdog]

Do you ever get killed by the crocodile you see?

 

[redargon]

I thought lizards shed there skin, they've got legs, for the most part.

 

[Borek]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO7Mll0XhzA

 

[physics girl phd]

I've seen a salamander molt (by one of brother's pets when we were kids). We carefully picked up its skin and floated it in some water in a "dixie" (aka. small disposable drinking) cup, and it floated up and spread out to look like a perfect salamander "ghost." Very cool.

We weren't allowed to keep crocodiles though... and our snake (a corn snake caught in Florida while visiting grandparents and taken home at the end of vacation) had to go back to Florida the next year (after it got loose in our house and was discovered by our mother in her shower).

 

[edward]

That video makes me want to crawl out of my skin.