Snakeskin
Snakeskin may either refer to the skin of a live snake, the shed skin of a snake after molting, or to a type of leather that is made from the hide of a dead snake. Snakeskin and scales can have varying patterns and color formations, providing protection via camouflage from predators.[1] The colors and iridescence in these scales are largely determined by the types and amount of chromatophores located in the dermis of the snake skin.[2] The snake's skin and scales are also an important feature to their locomotion, providing protection and minimizing friction when gliding over surfaces.[3][4][5][6]
For other uses, see Snakeskin (disambiguation).Snakeskin boots in Arizona
Pair of woman's high heeled platform shoes, 1930s
A vintage clutch with a fold-over closure, made of red snakeskin
Snakeskin is used to make clothing such as vests, belts, boots or shoes or fashion accessories such as handbags and wallets, and is used to cover the sound board of some string musical instruments, such as the banhu, sanxian] or the sanshin.
Snake leather is regarded as an exotic product alongside alligator, crocodile, lizard, ostrich, emu, camel, among others. With crocodile and lizard leathers, it belongs to the category of reptile leathers, with a scaly appearance. There is evidence that the harvest in at least some species of snakes killed for the leather industry is unsustainable and carried out in violation of national legislation in source countries.[13]
Leather goods and skins of Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) and reticulated python (Python reticulatus reticulatus) at a local shop at Mandalay, Burma
Snakeskin artifact
The Lamia: In this 1909 painting by Herbert James Draper, Lamia has human legs and a snakeskin around her waist. There is also a small snake on her right forearm.
A shed snake skin in nature
