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Glite Dictionary
iridophore

iridophore

1 9.9
A cell in the skin that bounces light to make shiny rainbow colors in fish and reptiles
  • noun
  • /ˌɪrɪˈdoʊfɔr/
  • Specialized
: iridóforo
  • The iridophore cells in the fish create stunning colors.

Examples

  • Some species of reptiles have iridophores that reflect sunlight.

  • The shimmering scales of the fish are caused by specialized iridophores in its skin.

  • Scientists studied how iridophores contribute to the bright colors of certain reptiles.

  • Under the microscope, the iridophore cells reflected light in a rainbow of hues.

  • The iridophores in the skin of some fish create beautiful, shimmering colors that change with the light.

  • The iridophores found in certain reptiles help them blend into their environment by reflecting light in unique ways.

  • Scientists study iridophores to understand how these cells produce iridescent colors in various animal species.

Surface Forms

iridophore singular
iridophores plural

Morphology

iridophore = irido + phore

Formed from specialized combining forms 'irido-' and '-phore' that are technical morphemes rather than common standalone English words, so an average B1 learner cannot reliably derive the meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Iridophore comes from the parts irid- and -phore, meaning 'rainbow' and 'bearer', and you can see irid- in iridescent and iris. So an iridophore is a cell that 'carries' or shows rainbow light, which is why these cells make fish and reptiles shine with changing colors.