1. A pigment-containing cell found in the skin of many lower vertebrates (e.g. chameleon) and in the integument of crustaceans. Concentration or dispersion of the pigment granules in the cytoplasm of the cell causes the colour of the animal to alter to match its surroundings. A common type of chromatophore is the melanophore, which contains the pigment melanin.

2. A membrane-bound structure in photosynthetic bacteria that contains photosynthetic pigments. See bacteriochlorophyll.