In zoology, a scale is a small rigid plate made out of keratin that grows out of vertebrate animals' skin to provide protection. In lepidopterans, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing,
Keeled scales of a colubrid snake (banded water snake; Nerodia fasciata)
Placoid scales on a lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris)
Cycloid scales on a common roach (Rutilus rutilus)
Brightly colored scales on a gold dust day gecko
A fish scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of the skin of a fish. The skin of most jawed fishes is covered with these protective scales, which can also provide effective camouflage through the
Cycloid scales cover these teleost fish (rohu)
Lobe-finned fishes, like this preserved coelacanth, have elasmoid scales.
The scales of this spotted gar appear glassy due to ganoine.
The alligator gar has a tough armouring of rhomboidal-shaped ganoid scales.