Cell
melanophore
[ muh-lan-uh-fawr, -fohr, mel-uh-nuh- ]
Subclass of:
Chromatophore
Etymology:
Greek melas (melano-) = black + phorus = bearer
Not an African porter, but a cell bearing melanin, the black pigment.
Definitions related to melanophores:
  • A specialized cell, derived from the neural crest, that contains melanin and regulates changes in pigment.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Chromatophores (large pigment cells of fish, amphibia, reptiles and many invertebrates) which contain melanin. Short term color changes are brought about by an active redistribution of the melanophores pigment containing organelles (MELANOSOMES). Mammals do not have melanophores; however they have retained smaller pigment cells known as MELANOCYTES.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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