News Animals

Reptile scales share evolutionary origin with hair, feathers

Skin bumps on lizards, crocodiles, snakes resolve confusing debate

scale development

IMPORTANT SPOTS  Tiny bumps (blue dots) on the skin of mammals, birds and reptiles point to shared ancestral structure of hair, feathers and scales. Mouse (far left), snake, chicken and Nile crocodile embryos shown.

N. Di-Poï, M. Milinkovitch, A. Tzika/UNIGE 2016

By Amy McDermott

- More than 2 years ago

Hair, scales and feathers arose from one ancestral structure, a new study finds.