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The large pigment cells of fish, amphibia, reptiles and many invertebrates which actively disperse and aggregate their pigment granules. These cells include MELANOPHORES, erythrophores, xanthophores, leucophores and iridiophores. (In algae, chromatophores refer to CHLOROPLASTS. In phototrophic bacteria chromatophores refer to membranous organelles (BACTERIAL CHROMATOPHORES.)

The general term coloured plastids of plants and animals; a pigment cell, which under control of the sympathetic nervous system can be altered in shape to produce a colour change.

Any pigment-bearing cell, such as those of the rete Malphigii.

A colored plastid due to the presence of chlorophyll, found in certain forms of the Protozoa. [Gr.]