scute

IPA: skjut

(zoology) A horny, chitinous, or bony external plate or scale, as on the shell of a turtle or the skin of crocodiles.
(genetics) A proneural gene, often associated with achaete, that is required for the formation of many larval and adult sense organs
(obsolete) A small shield.
(historical) An old French gold coin.

Examples of "scute" in Sentences

The cervical scute is normally longer than broad.
The marginal scutes are yellow and may be blotched.
The nuchal scute is located at the base of the head.
The rear of each scute is overlapped by a prominent knob.
Each paramedian scute is covered in a random pattern of pits.
Scutes will usually not overlap as snake scales but see the pangolin .
Tortoises thus keep their characteristic scute pattern throughout life.
The hind of the carapace is slightly scalloped shaped due to the scutes.
Tortoises keep a characteristic scute pattern on their shell throughout life.
The upper part of their head is protected by strong osseous scutes, and both the dorsal and pectoral fins are armed with powerful spines.