Ventral scales

As Scutum ventral ( from the Latin scutum " Scale " and venter, " belly", plural Scuta Ventralia or short Ventralia, " belly scales " ) are referred to the scales on the underside of the body in most snakes. The Scuta Ventralia are enlarged scales, which are arranged in a single row at a time. At the Ventralia the anal ( anal shield ) close in the area of the cloaca and then the Subcaudalia at the base of the tail on.

In particular, the number of Ventralia is an important determining feature within the snake systematics.