Frontal scale (snakes)

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The frontal scale refers to one or more scales on top of the head located between the supraocular scales. In many snakes, such as colubrids and elapids, this is a single large scale or plate. In most crotalines, however, this space is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped smaller scales that may be either keeled or smooth (see interorbital scales).[1] In blind snakes (Leptotyphlops), the frontal is second plate in the median dorsal line on the crown behind the rostral scale.[2]

Cited references

  1. Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
  2. Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0.