Snakes are limbless tetrapods highly specialized for sliding locomotion. This locomotion leads to the skin
being exposedto frictionloads, especially onthe ventral body side, whichleads to wear.Itispresumedthat
snakes therefore have specific optimizations for minimizing abrasion. Scales from snakes with habitat,
locomotor and/or behavior specializations have specific gradients in material properties that may be due
to different epidermal architecture. To approach this issue we examined the skin of Lampropeltis getula californiae (terrestrial), Epicrates cenchria cenchria (generalist), Morelia viridis (arboreal), and Gongylophis colubrinus (burrowing) with a focus on (i) the ultrastructure of the ventral epidermis and (ii) the qualitative abrasion pattern of the ventral scales. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed variations in the structure, thickness, layering, and material composition of the epidermis between the species. Furthermore, SEM and white light interferometer images of the scale surface showed that the abrasion patterns differed, even when the snakes were reared on the same substrate. These data support the idea that (i) a specific gradient in material properties may be due to a variation in epidermis architecture (thickness/ultrastructure) and (ii) this variation may be an optimization of material properties for specific ways of life.