Why do some animals have bright colors in their skin or fur?

Bright colors in animals can serve multiple purposes, such as attracting mates, signaling health, warning predators, or camouflaging. In many species, especially birds and insects, vibrant colors are used to attract mates and demonstrate genetic fitness. For example, male peacocks display bright feathers to signal their suitability as a mate. In other cases, bright colors serve as a warning mechanism (aposematism), where animals like poison dart frogs use vivid hues to signal to predators that they are toxic or dangerous.