We have demonstrated that crocodile head scales are patterned through a purely mechanical, self-organizing compressive-folding process (Nature 637, 375–383 (2025)). This research required the segmentation of multiple tissues (bone, dermis, epidermis), along with collagen fibres and sensory micro-organs, from our light-sheet microscopy data.
Our new short film presents, side by side, the computer model and the striking, large, multi-material 3D print we created from it.
Be sure to watch in 8K!
More details on the science behind the movie can be found here
A film summarizing our work on the mechanics of crocodile head-skin folding is also available in multiple languages (26K+ views on YouTube)
Original article
Self-organized patterning of crocodile head scales by compressive folding
Santos-Durán, Cooper, Jahanbakhsh, Timin & Milinkovitch
Nature 637, 375–383 (2025)
