Crocodile crochet stitch
Pairs of US dc posts support scales worked sideways around the posts.
Counted practice swatch
Make a ladder: ch19; dc in fourth chain (pair with ch3); [ch1, skip2 chains, 2 dc in next chain] 4 times; ch1, skip2, 2 dc in last chain. Six post pairs support three alternating scales.
Work the repeat
Scale row: around the first post of a pair work 5 dc downward, ch1, turn the work sideways and work 5 dc upward around the second post. Skip the next pair and repeat on pairs 3 and 5. For the next ladder, put pairs into scale centers and into gaps; alternate the pairs carrying scales.
Read the fabric
Do not work the scales into the top loops. Each scale encircles two posts; keep the ladder chain spaces open behind the scales.