Chem. [f. mod.L. Turac-us TOURACO + -IN1.] A crimson animal pigment, found by Professor A. H. Church in the wing-feathers of about 26 species of birds of the genera Turacus, Gallirex, and Musophaga, confined to the Æthiopic region of Central Africa; closely allied to hæmoglobin, but free from iron, and containing over 7 per cent. of copper.
1868. A. H. Church, in Student & Intell. Observ., I. 161. Turacine, a new animal pigment containing copper. Ibid. (1869), in Phil. Trans., CLIX. 627. Researches on Turacin.
1885. Riverside Nat. Hist. (1888), IV. 5. Another red [pigment], turacin, causes the magnificent red on the wings of the Musophagidæ.
