A pigment-containing cell that can change color by expanding or contracting, found in many animals including cephalopods, fish, and amphibians. These cells enable rapid color changes for camouflage, communication, or temperature regulation.
From Greek 'chroma' meaning color and 'phoros' meaning bearing or carrying, literally 'color-bearer.' The term was coined in the 19th century when biologists discovered that color changes in animals were controlled by specialized pigment cells.
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