Anal scale
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 or paired. When paired, the division is oblique. The anal scale is preceded by the ventral scales and followed by the subcaudal scales.