Mental scale

The Scutum mental or mental shield, usually abbreviated as mental, is a head scales of snakes and other squamates. This is the unpaired scale in the middle of the tip of the snout, just below the mouth. Thus, it stands opposite the rostral maxilla. Along the mouth close to the lower lip plates or sublabial. Below the Mental are the front chin shields.

The name is derived from the name of Mental mentum for the chin. Like all other signs is their head shape, size and training is an important determining feature within the snake systematics.

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