Glossary

pigment

Substance producing a characteristic color in plant or animal tissue.

Used in 60 species profiles

Related terms

astaxanthin
Carotenoid pigment found naturally in some fishes, crustaceans, microalgae and yeasts. Known to improve conditioning/colouration and used in some fish foods.
carotenoid
Any of a category of yellow to red pigments occurring naturally in plants and animals and including the carotenes and xanthophylls. Animals obtain carotenoids in their diets and they're known to enhance colouration in some fishes.
chromatophore
A pigment-containing or pigment-producing cell that can alter the colour of the skin by expanding or contracting.
erythrophore
Chromatophore containing carotenoid pigment and thus having red or orange colour.
leucism
Condition in which all types of skin pigment are reduced due to defects in pigment cell differentiation with the normal result a partially (often referred to as 'pied' or 'piebald'), or more rarely, completely white animal. Differs from albinism, which is caused by a lack of melanin only, in several ways, with one of the most apparent being that albino animals typically have red eyes whereas leucism does not normally affect eye colour. Pronounced, and sometimes spelled, leukism.
melanin
Any of various black, dark brown, reddish-brown, or yellow pigments found in animal or plants.
melanophore
Pigment cell containing melanin.
pigmentation
Colouration formed by deposition of pigments in tissues or cells.
troglomorphic
Used in reference to morphological adaptations to the cave or underground environment such as loss or reduction of pigment or eyes.
xanthophore
Yellow chromatophore typically containing a carotenoid pigment.

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