CHAPTER XV. 

 THE SKELETON OF THE CROCODILE. 



THE species chosen for description is C. palustris, a form 

 occurring throughout the Oriental region, but the description 

 would apply almost equally well to any of the other species of 

 the genus Crocodilus, and with comparatively unimportant 

 modifications to any of the living Crocodilia. 



I. EXOSKELETON. 



The exoskeleton of the Crocodile is strongly developed and 

 includes elements of both epidermal and dermal origin. 



a. The epidermal exoskeleton is formed of a number 

 of horny scales or plates of variable size covering the whole 

 surface of the body. Those covering the dorsal and ventral 

 surfaces are oblong in shape, and are arranged in regular rows 

 running transversely across the body. The scales covering 

 the limbs and head are mostly smaller and less regularly 

 arranged, and are frequently raised into a more or less obvious 

 keel. Those covering the dorsal surface of the tail are very 

 prominently keeled. 



The epidermal exoskeleton also includes the horny claws 

 borne by the first three digits of both manus and pes. 



b. The dermal exoskeleton. This has the form of 

 bony scutes which underlie the epidermal scales along the 

 dorsal surface of the trunk and anterior part of the tail. 



