What material composes the scales covering a rattlesnake's skin?
Answer
Keratin
The scales covering a rattlesnake's skin are fundamentally composed of keratin. Keratin is a tough, fibrous structural protein that also constitutes materials like human fingernails. This keratinized skin layer is crucial for reptiles like rattlesnakes because it prevents excessive water loss, allowing them to thrive in terrestrial and often arid environments without needing constant moisture contact, which is a major constraint for amphibians.
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