squamation

noun

1. (uncountable)The condition or character of being covered with scales.

   “A Palæoniscoid fish showing a condition of squamation almost identical with that of Polyodon.”

   “The literature is poorly documented on the development of squamation in fishes other than teleosts except in the primitive actinopterygian fishes, the holosteans Lepisosteus and Amia.”

2. (countable)A particular arrangement of scales; a special mode or form of squamation.

   “A fish from the Muschelkalk…has been made the type of the genus Prohalecites on account of peculiar features in its squamation.”

   “Eurynotus…still retains the palæoniscid squamation.”

   “These series are found to have a considerable consistency within a subspecies, as well as constant differences between subspecies, so that squamation, or scale arrangement, is of the greatest importance in the classification of snakes.”

3. (countable)A scaly growth on the skin.

   “Meanwhile, the lividity will spread over your skin, and it will darken to black, and it will pouch out into gummata and blebs and furuncles and squamations until your entire body—including your face resembles one great bunch of black raisins.”