zoofulvinhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoofulvin_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezoofulvin, n.
Revised 2017

zoofulvinnoun

Now rare.
  1. 1871–
    A yellow carotenoid pigment (xanthophyll) found in the plumage of certain birds.
    1. 1871
      Colouring matters may be extracted, and among these the yellow, red, lilac, and green (zoofulvin, zooerythrin, zooverdin), are soluble in ether and alcohol.
      H. Watts, translation of L. Gmelin, Hand-book of Chemistry vol. XVIII. 419
    2. 1910
      Green is formed by a combination of zoofulvin and melanin, as in the Green Woodpecker.
      Zoologist vol. 14 469
    3. 1950
      Zoofulvin has been identified with xanthophyll.
      E. A. Braude, translation of P. Karrer & E. Jucker Carotenoids ix. 93

Originally published as part of the entry for zoo-, comb. form

zoo-, comb. form was revised in June 2017.