supraocular

Supraocular is an anatomical adjective used to describe something situated above the eye. The term derives from Latin supra- meaning above and oculus meaning eye. In general usage across biology, supraocular denotes an area or structure located just above the eye, and its exact meaning can vary among taxa.

In herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians), supraocular most often refers to the supraocular scale, a scale on the head located above the eye. The size, shape, and presence of the supraocular scale are commonly described in taxonomic keys for snakes and lizards and can help distinguish species or genera. In snakes, this scale sits between the eye and the frontal scale and may be in contact with other scales such as the prefrontal or the frontal.

Some authors distinguish supraocular from the related supraorbital region; supraocular pertains to the area directly over the eye, while supraorbital can refer to the region above the orbit or to structures positioned in the supraorbital ridge.

In humans and mammals, the equivalent region is usually described using terms such as supraciliary or supraorbital or simply the area above the eye; "supraocular" is less common in clinical anatomy but may appear in descriptive zoological texts or paleontological descriptions.

Outside of herpetology, the term may be used more loosely to denote any structures above the eye in various species, including birds and fishes, though this usage is less standardized.