  Laser Texturing is one of the leading technologies applied to modify surface
topography. To date, however, a standardized procedure to generate
deterministic textures is virtually non-existent. In nature, especially in
squamata, there are many examples of deterministic structured textures that
allow species to control friction and condition their tribological response for
efficient function. In this work, we draw a comparison between industrial
surfaces and reptilian surfaces. We chose the python regius species as a
bio-analogue with a deterministic surface. We first study the structural make
up of the ventral scales of the snake (both construction and metrology). We
further compare the metrological features of the ventral scales to
experimentally recommended performance indicators of industrial surfaces
extracted from open literature. The results indicate the feasibility of
engineering a Laser Textured Surface based on the reptilian ornamentation
constructs. It is shown that the metrological features, key to efficient
function of a rubbing deterministic surface, are already optimized in the
reptile. We further show that optimization in reptilian surfaces is based on
synchronizing surface form, textures and aspects to condition the frictional
response. Mimicking reptilian surfaces, we argue, may form a design methodology
potentially capable of generating advanced deterministic surface constructs
capable of efficient tribological function.
