part of part of in taxon Afrotheria Euarchontoglires Bilateria Carnivora Petromyzontiformes Artiodactyla Xenarthra Eulipotyphla Chiroptera Perissodactyla Manidae integumental system scale Wikipedia:Scale_(zoology) A small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran (butterfly and moth) species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration. Scales are quite common and have evolved multiple times with varying structure and function. MAT:0000257 scale (sensu Metazoa) EFO:0000960 UBERON:0002542 MIAA:0000257 currently defined in a very inclusive fashion - may be obsoleted and replaced by more specific classes in future versions. The TAO, VSAO amd ZFA classes by this name are classified as 'dermal scales'. Can also be classified by composition - e.g. pangolin keratin scales. scales HAO:0000907 scale tissue BTO:0005055 surface structure