An armadillo? An elephant? A rhinoceros? You'd be forgiven for thinking one of these animals has the thickest skin on Earth. But you'd be wrong.
The armadillo may be armoured up to the hilt, and the elephant may be famous for it's tough skin, but it is another animal that holds the record for the world's thickest animal skin.
As well as being the largest fish in the ocean, the extraordinary whale shark (Rhincodon typus) has the thickest skin of any living creature. Measuring up to 10cm in certain areas, the skin is hard and rough to touch.
Whale shark skin is generally dark grey in colour, with a white belly and grey or white spots and stripes in a pattern unique to each individual shark.
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Whale sharks also have something called dermal denticles. These are tiny, flat, modified 'teeth', a little like scales, that cover the body. They are sheathed in enamel to reduce drag in the water. Whale shark eyes are also coated in these tiny teeth-like scales.
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