The spelling of the word "de squamate" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable "de" is pronounced as /dɛ/, with a short "e" sound. The second syllable "squa" is pronounced as /skweɪ/, with a long "a" sound. The final syllable "mate" is pronounced as /meɪt/, with a long "a" sound followed by a "t" sound. Together, the word is pronounced as /dɛskweɪmeɪt/. "De squamate" is a scientific term used to describe the process of removing scales from a fish.