Cells with a primary function of coloration found in a wide range of animals
This article is about a type of cell or multicellular organ. For other uses, see Chromatophore (disambiguation).
Chromatophores in the skin of a squid
Chromatophores are cells that produce color, of which many types are pigment-containing cells, or groups of cells, found in a wide range of animals including amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans and cephalopods. Mammals and birds, in contrast, have a class of cells called melanocytes for coloration.
Chromatophores are largely responsible for generating skin and eye colour in ectothermic animals and are generated in the neural crest during embryonic development. Mature chromatophores are grouped into subclasses based on their colour under white light: xanthophores (yellow), erythrophores (red), iridophores (reflective / iridescent), leucophores (white), melanophores (black/brown), and cyanophores (blue). While most chromatophores contain pigments that absorb specific wavelengths of light, the color of leucophores and iridophores is produced by their respective scattering and optical interference properties.
7x speed timelapse video of fish melanophores responding to 200μM adrenaline
Some species can rapidly change colour through mechanisms that translocate pigment and reorient reflective plates within chromatophores. This process, often used as a type of camouflage, is called physiological colour change or metachrosis.[1] Cephalopods, such as the octopus, have complex chromatophore organs controlled by muscles to achieve this, whereas vertebrates such as chameleons generate a similar effect by cell signalling. Such signals can be hormones or neurotransmitters and may be initiated by changes in mood, temperature, stress or visible changes in the local environment.[citation needed] Chromatophores are studied by scientists to understand human disease and as a tool in drug discovery.
^Scott M. Boback & Lynn M. Siefferman (2010). "Variation in Color and Color Change in Island and Mainland Boas (Boa constrictor)". Journal of Herpetology. 44 (4): 506–515. doi:10.1670/09-026.1. S2CID 53634890.
Chromatophores are cells that produce color, of which many types are pigment-containing cells, or groups of cells, found in a wide range of animals including...
a chromatophore can expand its surface area by 500%. Up to 200 chromatophores per mm2 of skin may occur. In Loligo plei, an expanded chromatophore may...
multiple spectral channels. When camouflaging themselves, they use their chromatophores to change brightness and pattern according to the background they see...
photosynthetic plastid that is often referred to as a 'cyanelle' or chromatophore, and is the only other known primary endosymbiosis event of photosynthetic...
and is tipped with a luminous photophore fishing lure Bioluminescence Chromatophore Chromophore, part of a molecule "Cephalopod Photophore Terminology"...
known as chromatophores which are pigment-containing cells such as hair follicles. The distribution of the pigment particles in the chromatophores can change...
exhibit fluorescence are called fluorescent chromatophores, and function somatically similar to regular chromatophores. These cells are dendritic, and contain...
and hair contain pigments such as melanin in specialized cells called chromatophores. In some species, pigments accrue over very long periods during an individual's...
used for research on replicating their camouflage abilities due to the chromatophores in their skin, which reflect a different color depending on the angle...
skin is covered in chromatophores and subcutaneous muscles known as papillae, both of which are under neural control. Chromatophores develop shortly before...
photosynthetic Paulinella species is often referred to as the 'cyanelle' or chromatophore, and is used in photosynthesis. It had a much more recent endosymbiotic...
and some species of insects. Chromatophores come in a variety of types based on the color they correspond to. Chromatophore types include xanthophores (responsible...
colour of amphibians is produced by three layers of pigment cells called chromatophores. These three cell layers consist of the melanophores (occupying the...
camouflage. Each chromatophore contains pigment of only one colour. In fish and frogs, colour change is mediated by a type of chromatophore known as melanophores...
iridescence in these scales are largely determined by the types and amount of chromatophores located in the dermis of the snake skin. The snake's skin and scales...
other color changes; see Phenolphthalein details. Biological pigment Chromatophore Fluorophore Litmus Pharmacophore Photophore, glandular organ Pigment...
within the species and for warning) or active camouflage, as their chromatophores are expanded or contracted. Although color changes appear to rely primarily...
cirrate octopuses). Furthermore, the cirrate octopuses lack innervated chromatophores and are therefore not capable of changing color (despite some unreferenced...
octopus from the Indo-Pacific region. Like other octopuses, it uses its chromatophores to disguise itself. It is noteworthy for being able to impersonate a...
the chromatophores. In contrast, when the octopus is in a relaxed state, the chromatophores will retract into the elastic sac. As these chromatophores interact...
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