Skins · 24 October 2026
How to Read a Crocodile Skin
Square scales, a small dot on each one, and how to tell real crocodile at a glance.
Exotic leather is easy to imitate in a photo and hard to imitate in the hand. A few simple marks tell you what you are looking at.
The scale pattern
Crocodile belly scales sit in even, squared rows. They grow slightly larger toward the centre of the belly and smaller toward the sides.
The sensor pit
Look closely and each crocodile scale has a tiny dot near its edge. This sensory pore is the quickest proof of real crocodile. Alligator scales do not have it.
Natural variation
A real hide is never perfectly uniform. Small differences in scale size and colour are a sign of a natural skin, not a fault. Embossed calf, by contrast, repeats the same pattern exactly.
Read more in The Skins Guide, or shop crocodile.
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