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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/danse_macabre_by_michael_wolgemut_6.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Prepare for skele-puns by the skele-ton.\\
[-''Dance of Death'' by Michael Wolgemut-]]]
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-> ''"The skull is nature's {{sculpture|s}}."''
-->-- '''David Bailey'''

Tropes about human and animal skeletons, and the bones that make them up. Subtrope of DeadBodyIndex.

Compare ''and'' contrast the MuscularIndex. See also ArtisticLicenseBiology, DeathTropes, HorrorTropes, and UndeadIndex.

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!!Tropes:
[[index]]

* BadWithTheBone: Bones are used as a weapon.
* BallisticBone: Bones are used as a projectile weapon.
* BewareTheSkullBase: Villain lairs shaped like skulls.
* BonesDoNotBelongThere: Bones in soft organs, or animals that don't have them in real life.
* {{Calacas}}: Skeletons representing the dead in Mexican culture. Usually highly decorated with designs painted on their skulls.
* CreepyCemetery: An unusually scary cemetery with skeletons, and maybe other monsters, abound.
* CrystalSkull: A supernatural skull made out of a gem or valuable metal.
* DemBones: Skeletons that move on their own.
* DesertSkull: The stock "animal skull in the desert", typically a bovine.
* {{Dracolich}}: A skeletal dragon.
* DinosaurDoggieBone: Dogs love fossilized dinosaur bones as much as regular bones.
* ElephantGraveyard: A place that large animals (not necessarily elephants) naturally go to when they die, often containing their skeletons.
* ExpressiveSkull: Skulls that can perform facial movements as if they had flesh and muscle. Typical in Halloween productions.
* FlamingSkulls: Skulls on fire.
* ForebodingCarcass: The presence of a skeleton is used to foreshadow that death and/or danger is coming.
* FriendlySkeleton: Sometimes instead of scary and mean, a skeleton will be depicted as kind and even comical.
* {{Gashadokuro}}: Giant skeleton youkai, made from the bones of a mass of people who never had proper burials.
* GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath: Animate skeletons with glowing eyes.
* NothingButSkinAndBones: A character's so thin that you can actually see their bones under their flesh. Typically used for zombies or starvation victims.
* NothingButSkulls: Skulls are the only bone present.
* RibcageRidge: The skeleton of a gigantic creature is shown to distance the work's location/time from familiarity.
* RibcageStomach: The ribcage is visible in the stomach, similar to NothingButSkinAndBones.
* ScarySkeleton: Malicious skeletons and skeleton-like creatures that are PlayedForHorror.
* SinisterDeerSkull: Deer skulls are creepy and usually signs of malevolence.
* SkeleBot9000: Robots that resemble skeletons.
* SkeletalAppendage: A living, otherwise non-skeletal character has part of their skeleton visible.
* SkeletalMusician: An animated skeleton who's also a musician.
* SkeletonCrew: The crew of a craft is made up of skeletons.
* SkeletonMotif: Skeletons/skulls resemble death, danger, etc.
* SkeletonsInTheCoatCloset: Bones used as clothing or armor.
* SkullCups: Skulls used as drinking cups.
* SkullForAHead: A creature that isn't a skeleton has a skull for a head.
* StockFemurBone: When non-skull bones are automatically femur bones. Typically used in cartoons.
* StrippedToTheBone: Only the skeleton is left behind.
* ThisWayToCertainDeath: The, usually skeletal, remains of those who traveled the route beforehand tell of danger.
* UndeadFossils: Remains of prehistoric animals that move on their own.
* UnbreakableBones: A character's bones can't be destroyed. Common with superheroes or monsters.
* WaitingSkeleton: A character waits so long that they've been reduced to a skeleton. Sometimes used for comedic effect.
* WalkingOssuary: An undead being created from parts of multiple mix-and-matched skeletons.
* XRaySparks: Getting electrocuted makes your skeleton visible.
* XylophonesForWalkingBones: Xylophones being involved with skeletons.
[[/index]]
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->[[MemeticMutation Thank Mr. Skeltal for this index.]]
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