melanophore

[muh-lan-uh-fawr, -fohr, mel-uh-nuh-]

noun

Biology.

1. a pigmented connective-tissue cell containing melanin in its cytoplasm, responsible for color changes in many fishes and reptiles.

melanophore

1. A pigmented cell that contains melanin, found especially in the skin of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of melanophore¹

First recorded in 1900–05; melano- + -phore

Example Sentences

Tiny packets of the dark dye melanin, for example, can be spread throughout the tendrils of big "melanophore" cells - or gathered into the centre, to lighten the skin again.

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The smaller frogs were recently metamorphosed as evidenced by the melanophore deposits above the vent.

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