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

/ mĕl′ə-nə-fôr′,mə-lăn′ə- /

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.

From BBC

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

From Project Gutenberg