213
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
H. Ehrlich, Biological Materials of Marine Origin, Biologically- Inspired Systems 4,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5730-1_4
Chapter 4
Fish Scales as Mineral-Based Composites
Abstract Structural elements called “scales” in fi sh have a structure and chemical
content closer to teeth than to any other scale type. Scales exist in many shapes and
sizes, and serve as protection (mechanical and anti-bacterial), camoufl age, and
plumage for marine fi shes. In addition to protective properties, scales provide these
animals with locomotive and, in the case of lateral lines, sensory abilities. A fi sh’s
locomotion is aided by the shape of scales, which help create a laminar fl ow of
water around the animal. These properties are partially determined by the hierarchically composite-based structure of scales. Discussed in this chapter are numerous
mineral-based composites and unique biological materials such as enamel,
enameloid, dentines, cosmine, ganoine, hyaline and their derivatives. Also discussed is the diversity and structure of extinct and extant fi sh scales, scutes and
denticles.
A scale (Greek lepid , Latin squama ) is a rigid plate-like structural unit that grows
out of a fi sh’s skin to facilitate swimming under water and to provide protection.
Scales show broad variety in structure and function. Scales are usually classifi ed as
part of integumentary system of organism (see for detailed review Sire et al. 2009 ).
Because of their structural features, being closely examined, scales of fi sh are
sources of information concerning the growth history and longevity of individual
animal (Schneider et al. 2000 ). This information is of principal importance in fi sh
identifi cation as well as in their nomenclature and classifi cation. They also may aid
in determining the phylogeny, sexual dimorphism; and assist studies of growth and
age. Past environmental conditions experienced by the fi sh are seen in its scales,
allowing a measure of water pollution of the water body (see for review Dapar et al.
2012 ).
Teeth, scales, and hair are typical vertebrate appendages which, at fi rst glance,
appear to have little in common (Sharpe 2001 ) (see Fig. 4.1 ). Fish scales and hair
are evolutionary and morphologically different in spite they are distributed over the
body surface in an orderly pattern. Fish scales and teeth are morphologically different too, “but both are elements of the dermal skeleton and they are considered to be
derived from a common ancestor,” (Sharpe 2001 ; see also Huysseune and Sire
1998 ). Although teeth and hair are also very different from morphological and
evolutionary view, they “both share a number of common developmental pathways,
such as the Hedgehog, the Bone morphogenetic protein, and Wnt signalling pathways,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
H. Ehrlich, Biological Materials of Marine Origin, Biologically- Inspired Systems 4,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5730-1_4
Chapter 4
Fish Scales as Mineral-Based Composites
Abstract Structural elements called “scales” in fi sh have a structure and chemical
content closer to teeth than to any other scale type. Scales exist in many shapes and
sizes, and serve as protection (mechanical and anti-bacterial), camoufl age, and
plumage for marine fi shes. In addition to protective properties, scales provide these
animals with locomotive and, in the case of lateral lines, sensory abilities. A fi sh’s
locomotion is aided by the shape of scales, which help create a laminar fl ow of
water around the animal. These properties are partially determined by the hierarchically composite-based structure of scales. Discussed in this chapter are numerous
mineral-based composites and unique biological materials such as enamel,
enameloid, dentines, cosmine, ganoine, hyaline and their derivatives. Also discussed is the diversity and structure of extinct and extant fi sh scales, scutes and
denticles.
A scale (Greek lepid , Latin squama ) is a rigid plate-like structural unit that grows
out of a fi sh’s skin to facilitate swimming under water and to provide protection.
Scales show broad variety in structure and function. Scales are usually classifi ed as
part of integumentary system of organism (see for detailed review Sire et al. 2009 ).
Because of their structural features, being closely examined, scales of fi sh are
sources of information concerning the growth history and longevity of individual
animal (Schneider et al. 2000 ). This information is of principal importance in fi sh
identifi cation as well as in their nomenclature and classifi cation. They also may aid
in determining the phylogeny, sexual dimorphism; and assist studies of growth and
age. Past environmental conditions experienced by the fi sh are seen in its scales,
allowing a measure of water pollution of the water body (see for review Dapar et al.
2012 ).
Teeth, scales, and hair are typical vertebrate appendages which, at fi rst glance,
appear to have little in common (Sharpe 2001 ) (see Fig. 4.1 ). Fish scales and hair
are evolutionary and morphologically different in spite they are distributed over the
body surface in an orderly pattern. Fish scales and teeth are morphologically different too, “but both are elements of the dermal skeleton and they are considered to be
derived from a common ancestor,” (Sharpe 2001 ; see also Huysseune and Sire
1998 ). Although teeth and hair are also very different from morphological and
evolutionary view, they “both share a number of common developmental pathways,
such as the Hedgehog, the Bone morphogenetic protein, and Wnt signalling pathways,