leucophore

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek λευκός (leukós, “white”) + -φόρος (-phóros, “bearing”), a derivative of φέρειν (phérein, “to bear, to carry”).

Noun

leucophore (plural leucophores)

Leucophore layer composition

1. (histology) Any chromatophore that shows white in reflected light.
   • 2006, Luciana Borrelli, Francesca Gherardi, Graziano Fiorito, A Catalogue of Body Patterning in Cephalopoda, page 216:

     When the overlying chromatophores are fully contracted, the underlying leucophores reflect the light making the papillae appear “chalky white”.

   • 2009, Masato Kinoshita, Kenji Murata, Kiyoshi Naruse, Minoru Tanaka, Medaka: Biology, Management, and Experimental Protocols, page 121:

     Leucophores contain purine in leucosomes and are responsible for white pigmentation in adult medaka.

   • 2013, Alberto Lapedriza, Kleio Petratou, Robet N. Kelsh, “14: Neural Crest Cells and Pigmentation”, in Paul Trainor, editor, Neural Crest Cells: Evolution, Development and Disease, page 289:

     Iridophores, formerly known also as guanophores (appearing blue, silver, or gold), and leucophores (white or cream) are non-dendritic cells that contain organelles termed reflective platelets, composed of crystallized guanine.

Translations

chromatophore that reflects white light