Do sharks have scales?

Learn some basic information about sharks with the Florida Museum of Natural History's Ichthyology Division. read more

Sharks do have scales, though they are very different from the scales of bony fish. While it varies from species to species, bony fish have scales typically made out of a mixture of bone, collagen, and keratin. read more

Sharks have tiny, coarse scales called placoid scales, which reduce drag from the surrounding water. Placoid scales are also known as dermal denticles and structurally resemble teeth. The texture of a shark is similar to sandpaper when rubbing from tail to head and smooth in the opposite direction. read more