{{Short description|Scale covering the cloacal opening in snakes}} [[Image:AB122 - Anal scale undivided.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Undivided anal scale of an elapid]] [[Image:AB123 - Anal scale divided.JPG|right|thumb|350px|Divided anal scale of ''Ptyas mucosus'', a colubrid. See the undivided ventral scales to its left and the divided caudal scales to the right.]] In snakes, the '''anal scale''' or '''anal plate''' is the scale just in front of and covering the cloacal opening. This scale can be either single ("anal entire") or paired ("anal divided"). When paired, the division is oblique.<ref name="Mal03">Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxicology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. {{ISBN|0-89464-877-2}}.</ref><ref name="W&W57">Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1,105 pp. (in two volumes). {{ISBN|0-8014-0463-0}}.</ref> The anal scale is preceded by the ventral scales and followed by the subcaudal scales.
==See also== *Snake scales
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Snake scales