melanophore

noun

me·​la·​no·​phore mə-ˈla-nə-ˌfȯr 

ˈme-lə-nə-

plural melanophores

: a melanin-containing chromatophore cell especially of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles that is similar to a mammalian melanocyte

Fishes rely on melanins. These compounds, ranging in color from brown to black, are produced in tiny granules called melanosomes; these granules move around within large branching cells called melanophores.

—Joe Levine

Examples of melanophore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In this period, glass eels lack color-producing cells such as chromatophores and melanophores, says George Burgess, an ichthyologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History. — Liz Langley, National Geographic, 25 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Melanophor, from melano- melano- + -phor -phore

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

melanophore

noun

me·​la·​no·​phore mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌfō(ə)r  ˈmel-ə-nə- 

-ˌfȯ(ə)r

: a melanin-containing chromatophore especially of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles that is similar to a mammalian melanocyte

melanophoric

-ˌlan-ə-ˈfōr-ik, -ˈfȯr- 

adjective