Ventral scales

Enlarged scales along the belly of snakes
Amphiesma stolata

In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down the underside of the body from the neck to the anal scale. When counting them, the first is the anteriormost ventral scale that contacts the paraventral (lowermost) row of dorsal scales on either side. The anal scale is not counted.[1]

Related scales

  • Preventral scales
  • Anal scale
  • Subcaudal scales
  • Paraventral scales

See also

  • Snake scale

References

  1. ^ Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.