Xanthophores - pigment cells with pigment ranging from light yellow to dark orange, determining yellow coloration.

From Greek xanthos - yellow and phoros - bearing, brightly colored yellow, orange pigment cells of the skin of lower vertebrates and a number of groups of invertebrates, e.g. crustaceans. The main pigments are pteridines (synthesized on specialized structures - pterinosomes) and carotenoids (supplied from food and concentrated in the cytoplasm of Xanthophores in the form of oil and fat droplets).

Xanthorism is the presence in the skin of predominantly yellow and orange pigmented cells. Increased yellow-orange coloration is found in orfe, catfish, eel, carp, crucian carp.