What animal's skin was once commonly used as sandpaper?
Question #2254. Asked by Mo.
walter
Answer has 3 votes
walter
Answer has 3 votes.
Shark skin was once used as sandpaper. It is covered with small bone-like structures that are actually closer to teeth than bone.
May 04 2000, 3:33 AM
zbeckabee
Answer has 6 votes
Currently Best Answer
zbeckabee Moderator 19 year member
11752 replies
Answer has 6 votes.
Currently voted the best answer.
Historically, shark skin has been used as an abrasive and, in Asia, to decorate sword hilts and sheaths. Dried but untanned skin, called shagreen, was once used like fine sandpaper for polishing wood.
The rough scales of the living fossil Coelacanth are used by the natives of Comoros as sandpaper.
http://www.primitiveways.com/processing_sharkskin.html