A type of chromatophore (color-changing cell) containing guanine crystals that reflects light and produces white, silver, or iridescent colors in animals like fish and insects.
From guanine + -phore (Greek phoros, 'bearing' or 'carrying'), referring to cells that carry guanine crystals; coined in the late 19th century by zoologists studying color in aquatic animals.
Fish use guanine crystals like millions of tiny mirrors to create their shimmering silver armor—it's biological engineering that makes actual mirrors look primitive!
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