melanophore

[ muh-lan-uh-fawr, -fohr, mel-uh-nuh- ]
/ məˈlæn əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈmɛl ə nə- /

noun Biology.

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

Origin of melanophore

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

Example sentences from the Web for melanophore

Medical definitions for melanophore

melanophore
[ mĕlə-nə-fôr′, mə-lănə- ]

n.

A pigment cell that contains melanin, especially as found in the skin of amphibians and reptiles.

Scientific definitions for melanophore

melanophore
[ mĕlə-nə-fôr′, mə-lănə- ]

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