A study on the surface shape of fish scales

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the functional design and hydrodynamic characteristics of fish scales. The rough surfaces of fish scales were measured with a three-dimensional, optical shape measuring system. The measurement was carried out on embiotocid fish Ditrema temminck, rockfish Sebastes inermis, and dogfish Mustelus manago Bleeker. Some scales of a dogfish Mustelus manago Bleeker were also observed microscopically making use of the scanning electron microscope as a faster fish. From the viewpoint of hydrodynamics, the microscopic structure and morphological characteristics of fish scales were discussed.