Healed scars are old battle wounds and bite marks. Healed scars have closed grain, and may be acceptable in the cutting area, depending on the project.
Open scars and cuts are wounds that were fresh and unhealed on the skin. These types of defects have open grain, and typically cannot be included in the cutting area.
Holes usually occur from scars or cuts that opened up during the tanning process due to the mechanical action of the drum rotation. Holes may also be a result of poor skinning technique.
Parasite damage appears as tiny round “bored” holes. They are a result of leeches and are only found on wild crocodiles. Parasite damage may be healed or open.
Wide umbilical scars are more prevalent in farm raised alligators and rarely occur on wild crocodiles. The cause of wide umbilical scars has been debated with causes ranging from egg handling to early hatching.
Wrinkling may occur in both farmed and wild alligators. Wrinkles can be a result from raw skin issues such as rapid weight loss of a sick wild crocodiles or improper diet. Wrinkles can also be caused from tanning issues.
Grain damage may be caused from improper raw skin preservation and care. It may also occur from poor tanning techniques which result in overheating (and burning) of the skin during the tanning process.
Bones or “buttons” are osteoderms which form in the skin. Bones are usually found in the neck and upper belly region in larger wild crocodiles and are rarely found in small or farmed animals.
