epidermal scale

Epidermal scales are tough, horny extensions of the outermost skin layer, the stratum corneum. They are well-developed in reptiles and also found on the exposed skin of birds and mammals. These scales are shed periodically.1

While absent in fish, which have dermal (bony) scales, epidermal scales appear in some amphibians, such as certain toads, caecilians, and salamanders. In reptiles, these scales are overlapping folds of skin, providing protection from water loss and predators. In birds, epidermal scales are typically found on the lower legs and feet, and modified scales form beaks. Mammals, like pangolins, also have modified epidermal scales, often on their tails and paws.123